Climate control

ABSTRACT

A system is provided in which the dampers may be individually controlled. The climate control system may be retrofit to an existing climate control system by connecting the controller to the existing climate control equipment through the thermostat interface. The climate control system may be monitored and set via a remote server.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/004,475 filed, Nov. 27, 2007, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

The specification generally relates to regulating climates.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion or portions of the disclosure of this document containscontent that is subject to protection by copyright. There is noobjection by the copyright owner to the facsimile reproduction of thepatent document and/or the patent disclosure as it is displayed in therecords and files of the Patent and Trademark Office, however, thecopyright owner reserves all protections otherwise afforded.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not beassumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in thebackground section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the backgroundsection or associated with the subject matter of the background sectionshould not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the priorart. The subject matter in the background section merely representsdifferent approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.Heating and cooling equipment is old and well known. However, heatingand cooling equipment often does not provide the flexibility to controlthe climate in each of a number of different areas as desired. Forexample, it may not be possible to keep the temperature of two differentrooms within the desired temperature ranges for each room. Additionally,retrofitting new climate control equipment to already existing equipmentmay be difficult because of the large number of different interfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following drawings like reference numbers are used to refer tolike elements. Although the following figures depict various examples ofthe invention, the invention is not limited to the examples depicted inthe figures.

FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a climate controlsystem.

FIG. 1B shows a block diagram of a view of the locations and componentswithin the zones of climate control system.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a cross section of an embodiment of anair register.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of another cross section of an embodimentof an air register.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of an air register from atop view.

FIG. 5A shows a block diagram of a sensor unit.

FIG. 5B shows a block diagram of an indoor sensor unit associated with alight switch.

FIG. 5C shows a block diagram of an outdoor sensor unit.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a Graphical User Interface associatedwith current settings.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a Graphical User Interface associatedwith set points.

FIG. 8A shows a block diagram of a computing system.

FIG. 8B shows a block diagram of the memory of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A shows a block diagram of the hardware components of a sensor.

FIG. 9B shows a block diagram of the content of the memory of a remoteserver.

FIG. 10A shows a block diagram of a portion of a computation tableassociated with a retrofit control system.

FIG. 10B shows another block diagram of a portion of a computation tableassociated with a retrofit control system

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of an example of a method of assembling system100.

FIG. 12A shows a first half of a flowchart of an example of a method ofusing system 100.

FIG. 12B shows a second half of a flowchart of an example of a method ofusing system 100.

FIG. 13A shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical User Interfacefor the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13B shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a MyLocations list ofthe GUI of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical User Interfacefor the system of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 15A and B show screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface for the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical User Interfacefor the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical User Interfacefor the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 18 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical User Interfacefor the system of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 19A and B show screenshots of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface which may be referred to as a ‘Dashboard.’

FIG. 20 shows an enlarged screenshot of an embodiment of one of thegraphs in FIGS. 19A and B.

FIG. 21 shows an enlarged screenshot of an embodiment of one of thegraphs in FIGS. 19A and B.

FIG. 22 shows an enlarged screenshot of an embodiment of graphing theparameters graphed in the GUI of FIG. 21 and other parameters (desiredranges vs. actual states) not shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface for setting the status of an HVAC System.

FIG. 24 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface possibly for a Chief Administrator of the system of FIG. 1 tomonitor users.

FIG. 25 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface possibly for a Chief Administrator of the system of FIG. 1 toset allowable ranges climate parameters.

FIG. 26 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface of FIG. 1 to set or to change (e.g., override) setpoints forrooms and/or users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although various embodiments of the invention may have been motivated byvarious deficiencies with the prior art, which may be discussed oralluded to in one or more places in the specification, the embodimentsof the invention do not necessarily address any of these deficiencies.In other words, different embodiments of the invention may addressdifferent deficiencies that may be discussed in the specification. Someembodiments may only partially address some deficiencies or just onedeficiency that may be discussed in the specification, and someembodiments may not address any of these deficiencies.

In general, at the beginning of the discussion of each of FIGS. 1A-10 isa brief description of each element, which may have no more than thename of each of the elements in the particular figure that is beingdiscussed. After the brief description of each element, each element ofFIGS. 1A-10 is further discussed in numerical order. In general, each ofFIGS. 1A-12B is discussed in numerical order, and the elements withinFIGS. 1A-12B are also usually discussed in numerical order to facilitateeasily locating the discussion of a particular element. Nonetheless,there is not necessarily any one location where all of the informationof any element of FIGS. 1A-12B is located. Unique information about anyparticular element or any other aspect of any of FIGS. 1A-12B may befound in, or implied by, any part of the specification.

FIG. 1A shows a diagram of an embodiment of a climate control system100. Climate control system 100 includes legacy control system 101,having legacy controller 103, and heating/AC system 104, which includesfan 106, air conditioner 108 and heater 110. In this specification, theterm “heating/AC” and “HVAC” may be substituted for one another in anyplace in the specification to obtain new embodiments. Climate controlsystem 100 further includes air ducts 111 and retrofit control system102, having zones 112 a-112 n, which include legacy thermostats 122a-122 n, controllers 124 a-124 n, and rooms 113 aa-113 nm. Rooms 113aa-113 nm include air registers 114 aa-114 nm, sensors 116 aa-116 nm,optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm and computers 120 aa-120 nm. Climatecontrol system 100 also includes network 130 and remote server 132. Inother embodiments, climate control system 100 may not have all of thecomponents listed above or may have other components instead of and/orin addition to those listed above (e.g., humidity control and fresh aircontrol).

Climate control system 100 may regulate temperatures and climatesettings for any of a plurality of rooms and/or zones, thereby providingmore precise management of temperatures, climates, and/or energyconsumption.

Legacy control system 101 is a pre-existing control system for aheating, cooling, and/or ventilation.

Retrofit control system 102 is a control system that replaces all or atleast a part of legacy control system 101, and regulates temperaturesand climate settings for any one or more of rooms 113 aa-113 nm and/orzones 112 a-112 n. In an embodiment, retrofit control system 102 allowsmore precise climate control over locations and may control the climateby heating, cooling, ventilation, and other climate systems such ashumidification, dehumidification, return air source (e.g., fresh/outsideair control and/or multiple inside sources), steam/hot-water heat, underfloor heating/cooling, steam generation (incl for steam baths),resistive (e.g. baseboard) heaters, sauna control, etc.

Legacy controller 103 may be an existing controller for controlling aheating, ventilation, air conditioning and/or other climate controlsystem. In an embodiment, legacy controller 102 may control temperaturesettings by switching components (e.g. a heat pump, heater, air coolingunit, or fan) on and off and/or changing their settings (e.g., motorspeeds and/or the amount of heated or cooled air generated). Legacycontroller 103 may be coupled with a thermostat that directs theswitching function of legacy controller 103, an automated controllerdirected by programmable settings, or any of the plurality ofcontrollers that are used for controlling heating, ventilation, and airconditioning systems. Legacy controller 103 may be disconnected,partially disabled, and/or fully disabled in the process of retrofitting(e.g., installing) retrofit control system 102 within climate controlsystem 100.

Heating/AC system 104 may circulate air to any of a plurality oflocations associated with climate control system 100. Heating/AC system104 may heat and/or cool the location. The air circulated may be heated,cooled, or unaltered. In other embodiments, heating/AC system 104 mayinclude other components, such as one or more heat pumps, humidifiers,and/or sump pumps in addition to, or instead of, fan 106, airconditioner 108, and/or heater 110.

Fan 106 may cause air to flow and/or circulate within climate controlsystem 100. In an embodiment, fan 106 may direct air into a ventilationsystem, which causes it to enter and/or circulate through ducts and/orwithin an environment. Fan 106 may be a single fan. In anotherembodiment, fan 106 is replaced by a system of fans. Fan 106 or any ofthe fans of climate control system 100 may be included within a heater,an air conditioner, or may be a separate unit.

Air conditioner 108 may be any type of unit or device for cooling air.In an embodiment, air conditioner 108 cools air, which is sent into anenvironment in which it is desirable to reduce the temperature. Heater110 may be any type of unit or device for heating air (e.g., a gas orelectric heater). In an embodiment, heater 110 may direct heated airinto an environment in which it is desirable to increase thetemperature. Air conditioner 108 and/or heater 110 may have a fan fordistributing the heated or cooled air. In an embodiment, fan 106 may bepart of heater 110 and/or air conditioner 108. In another embodiment,fan 106 may be a separate unit and optionally air conditioner 108 and/orheater 110 may have their own fan.

Air ducts 111 may be a system of one or more ducts, which may besuitable for delivering heated, cooled, otherwise altered, and/orunaltered air. In an embodiment, air duct 111 may be a segmented networkof interconnected ventilation ducts. Air ducts 111 may include one ormore valves for directing the flow and volume of air that flows throughany given duct. Air ducts 111 are the conduit through which air isdelivered from heating A/C system 104 to the individual rooms and zonesof climate control system 100 (which will be discussed below). Air ducts111 may be used for ventilation, dumping air outside, and bringing airinside. Fan 106 may be located within air ducts 111 and/or at anentrance to one or more air ducts 111.

Each of zones 112 a-112 n is a collection of one or more locations. Eachof the locations within a zone has at least one climate parameter thatis controlled to have related values throughout the zone. In a simplecase, the particular zone has one sensor and one air register or anotherpiece of equipment that allows conditioned air to enter the room (or tootherwise control the climate parameter which is measured). In anotherexample, instead of having just one sensor, the zone has multiplesensors, and the average value of the measurements or some otherfunction of the measurements of the sensors is used in place of a singlesensor measurement to determine the settings for controlling theclimate. As another example, there is one sensor and multiple airregisters or multiple pieces of another type of equipment that affectsthe climate of the zone, and each air register or other piece ofequipment is controlled to maintain a particular reading of at least oneclimate parameter. As a more specific example, one portion of a zonehaving one temperature sensor may be sent more cool air or less hot airthan another portion of the zone, because one portion tends to receivemore sunlight. As another more specific example, one portion of a zonehaving one temperature sensor may be sent more cool air or less hot airthan another portion of the zone, because one portion may need to bekept cooler than another portion of the same zone, so as to keep certainequipment at a cooler temperature. In another example, there aremultiple sensors and multiple air registers or other multiple pieces ofequipment are used instead of a single measurement from a single sensorto determine one or more settings of a climate control parameter. Inanother example, one or more functions of a combination of themeasurements from the sensors are used instead the values of the varioussensor readings to determine one or more settings of a climate controlparameter. For example, all of the air registers may be opened byrelated amounts. The related amounts may be amounts that are expected toproduce a particular value of the function (the function of thecombination of the individual sensor measurements). Alternatively oradditionally, the related amounts may be amounts (that the registers areopened) that are expected to produce related values of the measurementsat different locations in the zone at which there may or may not be oneor more sensors. For example, by opening different registers bydifferent pre-calculated amounts different parts of a room may bemaintained at different temperature according to different people'spreferences listed in those locations even though there is only onetemperature sensor, and instead of maintaining the sensor at a giventemperature a function may be minimized, where the function may be thesum of the absolute differences between the expected and desiredtemperatures at each locations in the room.

For a Multi Input, Multi Output (MIMO) system each sensory locationmonitors one or more climate parameters (e.g., temperature, humidity,CO, CO₂, VOCs, radioactivity, and/or biological contaminants). The stateof the air flowing through ducts may be controlled by individuallycontrolling individual dampers, registers, and/or other actuators withinthe ducts and/or zones, and/or by controlling groups of dampers,registers, and/or other actuators within the ducts and/or zonestogether. The control may be for affecting one output variable (e.g.,heating air) or for multiple output variables (e.g., heating air,cooling air, humidifying air, dehumidifying air, airflow rate, airflowduty cycle, and/or percent fresh outside air). The relationship betweenSensor Inputs and Actuated Outputs may be Single Input and Single Output(SISO), MIMO, (e.g., multi inputs from one sensor location OR from manysensor locations and/or one or more estimated state(s) of the ClimateSystem, multi output), SIMO or MISO.

Each of zones 112 a-112 n may include one or more rooms 113 aa-113 nm(mentioned below). Optionally, there may be one or more zones within thesame room (especially if the room is large, includes dividers, includespartitions, and/or includes multiple cubicles).

Each of rooms 113 aa-113 nm is a walled-in location within one or moreof zones 112 a-112 n within which climate regulation is implemented viaretrofit control system 102 (mentioned above). Rooms 113 aa-113 nm maycontain, air registers 114 aa-114 nm, sensors 116 aa-116 nm, optionalthermostats 118 aa-118 nm, and/or computers 120 aa-120 nm (which will bediscussed below). Rooms 113 aa-113 nm are examples of user locations. Inthe specification a user location is a location for which it isconvenient to set to one uniform set of climate settings. In anembodiment, user locations are chosen according to which locations tendto be used by the same user or group of users. For example, a userlocation may be a work area of a particular user or group of users. Asan example of the definition of the term user location, if the climatecontrol is only regulating the temperature, any given individual userlocation has only one temperature setting. In an embodiment, other userlocations may be included within control system 100 instead of, and/orin addition to, rooms 113 aa-113 nm. Although in FIG. 1A each of rooms113 aa-133 nm is depicted as being with a zone, and no rooms containmultiple zones, in an embodiment a room may contain multiple zones or azone may contain multiple rooms. For example, a large room having manycubicles may be divided into multiple zones, one zone for each airregister. It may be advantageous to divide a large room into multiplezones in situations where the environment tends to heat or cool one partof a room more so than another. For example, in a large room which getssunlight on only one side, it may be desirable to either heat less orcool more of the portion of the room which receives the extra sunlight.

Air registers 114 aa-114 nm allow, limit, or prevent the flow of airfrom air ducts 111 into and/or from rooms 113 aa-113 nm, where (forexample) one of air registers 114 aa-114 nm is located. Air registers114 aa-114 nm may be any airflow modifying devices, such as dampers(which restrict airflow) and/or duct fans (which increase airflow). Inan embodiment, air registers 114 aa-114 nm may connect air ducts 111 toa room. In another embodiment, air registers 114 aa-114 nm may belocated within air ducts 111 at a segment other than the segmentconjoining air ducts 111 with a room. Air registers 114 aa-114 nm may beretrofit into a legacy climate control system 101 and may be controlledby a climate control system retrofit onto the legacy control system(e.g., retrofit control system 102). Although in FIG. 1A there is aone-to-one relationship between rooms 113 aa-113 nm and air registers114 aa-114 nm, in an embodiment, there may be multiple air registers inany of rooms 113 aa-113 nm and/or there may be some of rooms 113 aa-113nm that do not have an air register.

Sensors 116 aa-116 nm may monitor the state of a room (e.g. thetemperature, humidity, presence of individuals, concentrations of CO,CO₂, radioactivity, organic compounds, etc.) and/or devices thatindicate the location of individuals or equipment that requires acertain climate (e.g., an RFID device) in a location associated with oneor more sensors 116 aa-nm. A discussion of an embodiment of a sensorthat may be used for any combination of sensors 116 aa-116 nm isdiscussed in conjunction with FIGS. 5A-5C. In an embodiment there is atleast one sensor in each room and/or user location. Although in FIG. 1Athere is a one-to-one relationship between rooms 113 aa-113 nm andsensors 116 aa-116 nm, in an embodiment, there may be multiple sensorsin any of rooms 113 aa-113 nm (to obtain more accurate climateinformation of the room, especially if the room contains more than onezone) and/or there may be some of rooms 113 aa-113 nm and/or userlocations that do not have sensor. In an embodiment, there is at leastone sensor in each zone.

Optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm may receive and/or displaytemperature and/or other sensor readings from sensors 116 aa-116 nm (forexample, or from other sensor). Optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm maybe used for inputting or modifying (e.g., a device that allows a user tochange the setpoint a given number of degrees and/or HVAC On/Offcontrol) desired climate settings, and optional thermostats 118 aa-118nm sends output signals to a controller that manages the climate of aroom. Computers 120 aa-120 nm implement a browser or specializedsoftware that functions as a digital thermostat for controlling climatesettings for one or more environments associated with heating/AC system104. In an embodiment, computers 120 aa-120 nm may be a personalcomputer, laptop, personal assistant, wireless phone, or any networkdevice capable of rendering a browser interface and/or executingsoftware for interacting with climate control system 100. Computers 120aa-nm are optional. In an embodiment, computers 120 aa-120 nm mayperform one or more of the functions of and/or may replace optionalthermostats 118 aa-118 nm.

Computers 120 aa-120 nm may render a graphical user interface (GUI) thatdisplays any or all of the one or more environments associated withheating/AC system 104, and/or a climate controller. Computers 120 aa-120nm may store settings to any storage medium that can be read by acomputing device and/or to a network associated with a climatecontroller. In an embodiment, computers 120 aa-120 nm may be anembodiment of computer 800 (of FIG. 8A).

Legacy thermostats 122 a-122 n may be pre-existing devices forregulating temperatures via legacy controller 103. In an embodiment,each of zones 112 a-112 n includes at least one of legacy thermostats122 a-122 n. In an embodiment, legacy thermostats 122 a-122 n, whichwould control temperatures for one or more rooms 113 aa-113 nm, aredisconnected, and instead computers 102 aa-120 nm access (e.g., via abrowser) a GUI on an external server to enter climate settings.Alternatively, one or more of optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm may beused for entering climate settings instead of legacy thermostats 122a-122 n. Further, legacy thermostats 122 a-122 n, prior to beingdisconnected, may have had the limitation of being incapable ofcontrolling climates of individual rooms and/or user locations within agroup of rooms that were regulated by one of legacy thermostats 122a-122 n.

Controllers 124 a-124 n regulate temperature settings for individualrooms and zones. In an embodiment, controllers 124 a-124 n areconfigured to control, circumvent, and/or partially circumvent apreexisting legacy controller 103.

In an embodiment, controllers 124 a-124 n may receive temperature andhumidity (and/or other sensor) measurements from a sensor 116 aa-116 nm.Controllers 124 a-124 n may receive temperature, humidity, and/or otherschedule settings from thermostat 118 aa-118 nm and/or computers 120aa-120 nm. Based on the sensor measurements and the settings received,one or more of controllers 124 a-124 n may determine whether to turn onor turn off at least one or more of fan 106, air conditioner 108, heater110. Controllers 124 a-124 n may also determine whether to adjust thepositions of the dampers of air registers 114 aa-114 nm. Further,controllers 124 a-124 n may control signals for changing the stateand/or settings of components of climate control system 100. In anembodiment, controllers 124 a-124 n may be communicatively coupled withothers of controllers 124 a-124 n within climate control system 100.Controllers 124 a-124 n may send and/or receive updates (e.g., newclimate readings, user settings, and/or inputs to a thermostat) to andfrom communicatively coupled components within climate control system100. As a result of the updating, directives to heating/AC system 104may be computed and implemented for altering temperature settings, theposition of one or more dampers within one or more air registers 114aa-114 nm, and display information associated with a GUI (such as GUI600 and/or GUI 700 of FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively).

In an embodiment, one or more of controllers 124 a-124 n may regularlymonitor and manage the operations of climate control system 100. Forexample, controllers 124 a-124 n may communicate with other controllers,one or more sensors 116 aa-116 nm, optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm,and/or other devices communicatively coupled with a network. As aresult, information related to climate control system 100 componentswithin rooms 113 aa-113 nm, their status, readings and/or settings maybe returned to the one or more of controllers 124 a-124 n. Controllers124 a-124 n may also retrieve configuration settings from a serverand/or other devices coupled with a network. Prior to sending controldirectives to components of climate control system 100 (e.g., heating/ACsystem 104 and/or air registers 114 aa-114 nm), the master controller(e.g., one of controllers 124 a-124 n) may determine the most efficientmanner of maintaining climate conditions in one room by considering theclimate conditions in other rooms (e.g. by considering the state of theentire system). Consequently, to consider the state of the entiresystem, the master controller may cross reference climate settings andmeasurements of one room with climate settings and measurements of otherrooms (to determine a desired method of obtaining or maintaining aparticular set of climate conditions). Controllers 124 a-124 n maydetermine the nature of an adjustment (e.g. towards an open or closedposition) and/or the degree of an adjustment of a damper 204 (of FIG.2), and whether to change the settings and/or state (e.g., on or off) offan 106, air conditioner 108, or heater 110, based on selected usersettings and sensor measurements. For example, controllers 124 a-124 nmay adjust the components of climate control system 100 to correspond tosettings previously established for a user based on a previously setadjustment time and/or initiate the adjustments in response to userinteraction (e.g. user input, the entry of a user into one of rooms 113aa-113 nm with which the user is associated and/or other means ofdetecting a user).

The most recent measurements of sensors 116 aa-116 nm may be sent to aserver for rendering to display devices, and adjustments to theconfiguration of heating/AC system 104 may be made. In anotherembodiment, one of controllers 124 a-124 n may act as a mastercontroller and perform the monitoring and management of othercontrollers in addition to monitoring and managing climate controlsystem 100. The master controller (if present), may include anintegrated server and related software for sending, receiving andmanaging the operating tasks of climate control system 100. In anotherembodiment, the monitoring and management functions may involvepeer-to-peer communications and control (no master controller), or othercomponents than those listed above, and are optional.

Network 130 is any of one or more networks of devices communicativelycoupled with one another. In an embodiment, network 130 can be a LocalArea Network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), cable network, telephonenetwork, wireless network, peer-to-peer network, point-to-point network,star network, token ring network, hub network, another suitable network,or any combination of the above networks. Transfer ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networks are commonly implemented.The Internet is an example of a TCP/IP network, and may be includedwithin or may be an embodiment of network 130.

Remote server 132 allows control over features of climate control system100 via network 130. Remote server 132 may perform control functionsinstead of, or in addition to, controllers 124 a-124 n. Remote server132 may store updates to software that run on optional thermostats 118aa-118 nm, computers 120 aa-120 nm, and/or controllers 124 a-124 n. Inan embodiment, remote server 132 may be used for entering settings (suchas desired temperatures) for portions of climate control system 100.

FIG. 1B shows a diagram of an embodiment of the zones 112 a-112 n ofclimate control system 100 including portions that cannot be seen inFIG. 1A. FIG. 1B, and may include the locations and components withinzones 112 a-112 n. Zones 112 a-112 n include legacy thermostats 122a-122 n, controllers 124 a-124 n, and rooms 113 aa-113 nm. Rooms 113aa-113 nm may include air registers 114 aa-114 nm, sensors 116 aa-116nm, optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm and computers 120 aa-120 nm. Inother embodiments, climate control system 100 may not have all of thecomponents listed above or may have other components instead of, and/orin addition to, those listed above. Zones 112 a-112 n, legacythermostats 122 a-122 n, controllers 124 a-124 n, rooms 113 aa-113 nm,air registers 114 aa-114 nm, sensors 116 aa-116 nm, optional thermostats118 aa-118 nm and computers 120 aa-120 nm were discussed above inconjunction with FIG. 1A.

The climate control system may be provided as a service with no (or,optionally, limited) upfront fee, so that the purchaser can achieve animmediate (or a very fast) financial breakeven, with no (or reduced-)risk, or other cost of ownership, and therefore could achieve no (orlimited) financial or other downside. Consequently, the seller mayeventually capture much more revenue than would be possible by askingfor the entire payment upfront. Overall, accepting installment paymentsbetter aligns the risk with those who have control over the risk (theseller) and thereby leads to greater economic efficiency (and thereforebenefit to the customer and seller).

The mechanical system damper (one that uses moving parts) may becompletely internal to the duct (within the cylindrical walls), havingno motor pack on the outside of unit. The damper may use a singlebutterfly valve which may be on or off center with respect to the pointat which the valve pivots, and/or off center with respect to the ductwithin which the valve is located. Such a configuration may beespecially desirable for use in round ducts, multiple louvers inrectangular ducts, or with other types of valves. The damper is placedinside an existing duct by sliding the damper in the duct (afterremoving the register, which may only require removing two screws).

The damper may be separated into multiple pieces which are then easilyand accurately reassembled in a way that reduces and/or avoids geometryissues (akin to making a ship in a bottle) that might otherwise preventit from successfully sliding it into a duct with difficult ductgeometric properties. For example, in an embodiment the damper isseparated into 3 to 4 sections which are inserted into a duct, andinstalled while inside the duct.

As a result, in this embodiment, there is no need to cut ducting, drillholes, install set screws, or wrap duct tape when installing the damper.For the same reasons, there is no need to remove drywall if the duct isbehind a wall. A compressible material may be placed around theperiphery of the damper to reduce airflow leaks and to simultaneouslyposition the damper firmly and/or permanently into the duct.

The damper and the gear may be an integral piece, e.g., the gear anddamper may be one piece (e.g., if the damper is plastic) or one assemblyotherwise (e.g., if the damper metal or similar material). A worm gearmay be placed directly upon the damper/gear assembly to preventingdamper from moving the actuator. The use of a worm gear may reduce thenumber of required components, and lower equipment costs.

The temperature, humidity, and/or other sensors may be used to verifycorrect operation of the actuators that position the damper. Theaction/effect relationship data that relates to the heating and/orcooling of the room are an indication of whether the actuator is movingthe position of the damper. This is different than directposition-feedback sensors in use with other actuators, which tend to bemuch more expensive as a result of the cost of the sensors, theinstallation costs associated with the sensors, and similar realitiesrelated to the controllers required to read sensors.

A stepper motor (or other motor providing sufficiently accurate openloop control) may both power and control the positioning of the damperwithout needing additional components (keeping costs down).

The end-stops may be recalibrated periodically (e.g., nightly inbusiness environments or during the daytime in homes). In general, thereare times when the system is OFF. For example, when the system is not inuse or when few people are likely to be present. It is desirable torecalibrate the position of components at such times. Recalibration of adamper's end-stop may be accomplished with a stepper motor, byattempting to drive the actuator past the zero/datum position which,with end-stops, puts it back to exactly the zero/datum position. In thespecification, the process of causing a damper to rotate beyond aposition associated with a closed state is referred to as “overdriving.”For example, controllers 124 a-124 n may overdrive the dampers of airregisters 114 aa-144 nm.

The interface of Legacy HVAC equipment is extremely varied (becausethere are many manufacturers that have produced such equipment over manyyears, and in many markets/countries). However, the existing thermostatwire/interface may be used as a ‘Common’ interface (common toessentially all Legacy HVAC equipment). Typically, the thermostatwire/interface has a 24VAC On/Off. Although the thermostat interface mayalso vary (e.g., pneumatic systems), the thermostat interface is theeasiest way to interface with a large variety of HVAC equipment toexisting Legacy Controllers and/or HVAC equipment such as fan 106, airconditioner 108, and heater 110 with On/Off signals to each piece ofequipment and/or stage (e.g., heating, cool or fan) of such equipment.

Because there exists 40+ years of HVAC equipment of various types whichare currently in use, and which were manufactured by many manufacturers,interfacing perfectly with all hardware from all manufacturers isdifficult. This difficulty is a key reason why a better developedretrofit control system (e.g., a supplemental control system) has notemerged for interfacing with existing HVAC equipment/control systems.

In an embodiment, the thermostat interface (or a more direct HVACequipment stages interface) may be a practical interface for enablingessentially all existing HVAC equipment to be used for individualtemperature control. Nearly (e.g., 90+% of) perfect control in manysenses may be obtained by such interface to nearly all legacy systems insuch a way as to be able to create a low cost and low installation costretrofit control system for essentially all buildings world-wide withforced air heating/cooling (e.g., with either no loss or little loss ofthe functions provided by the legacy HVAC equipment) as well as to manynon-forced-air HVAC systems. For some systems, the motor speeds of thefans, and the temperature settings of the heater and/or air conditionerand/other other HVAC equipment may be controllable from the thermostatinterface. In some systems, the only control mechanism for such as HVACequipment may be switching fan, heater, and/or air conditioner on oroff. For systems in which the fan heater and/or air conditioner may onlybe turned on or off, the power to the fan heater and/or air conditionermay be pulsed to effectively obtain a particular air flow, and/orparticular amount of heating and/or air conditioning.

As part of a control-loop algorithm, a computational model may be usedthat factors in real-time characteristics such as the diameter of ducts,length of ducts, airflow pressure, and the airflow characteristics offactors which would result in a pressure increase and/or airflowdecrease (such as modulating actuators/dampers, and/or the number ofpeople in a room). When multiple people are in the room an average ormedian of temperature preferences may be used. Alternatively, a userranking system may be established for user in implementing thepreferences of the ranked users based on a weighted average in whichthose of higher ranking are given a greater weight while averaging theclimate preferences, or the preferences of those of a higher rankingsupersede the preferences of those of a lower ranking. The airflowdelivered to each air register supplied by a HVAC system is controlled(e.g., types of control may include heating, cooling, humidification,dehumidification). The computation of the airflow may include factorsfor ensuring that there is a sufficient amount of airflow across a heatexchanger (air handler) to prevent damage to HVAC system equipment.

Optionally sensors (e.g., temperature sensors) may be included upstreamand/or downstream of the heat exchanger to ensure safe operation andensure that no other (expensive) system (e.g., a system of bypassdampers) is required.

The computation of the airflow may evaluate whether airflow through anyparticular air-register is considerably high and likely to generate anamount of noise, or other effects, significant enough to be consideredundesirable by some users. For example, if the airflow is too highpapers may be blown off of desks or the system may be too noisy.

A user override/adjustment may be provided that allows an individual toadjust the airflow according to the individual's personal preference.There may be user settings that allow the user to set a maximumallowable airflow (e.g., to limit the amount of noise in case anindividual finds a particular air flow too loud). The user airflow andother settings may be time dependent (e.g., in a house, the user may bemore sensitive to loud airflows at night).

In the prior art, in multi-zone temperature control systems, bypassdampers maybe required to ensure that high airflow or higher airflow ismaintained across heat exchangers while allowing low airflow or lowerairflow to smaller zones. In some cases, the air that would have beensent to the zone that does not need the airflow is dumped outside or tozones that do not require conditioned air for user comfort or fuelefficiency, which is inefficient. The bypass dampers are costly to buyand install. Bypass dampers are also inefficient economically and ofteninefficient thermodynamically. Also, bypass dampers sometimes may causedamage to the Air Handlers. By using dampers placed in the air registersand computing the airflow to take into account noise and safety factors,the noise and safety concerns may be avoided at a lower cost.

In addition to lowering the total amount of energy used (e.g., thelowering of the total energy used being enabled via Central Monitoring &Control of the airflow) a company may control the way in which energy isused, and thereby save more money. Specifically, as a result ofcontrolling the airflow and consequently the heating/cooling deliveredto each room, the peak hour power consumption may be reduced. Also, theheat sent to individual rooms may be turned off, and/or turned down,and/or otherwise adjusted to help a company reduce their energy costs.An analysis of the heat required verses electrical load needed toproduce that heat and/or a cost benefit analysis may be performed, andbased on the analysis, the electrical load may be managed to reducecosts according to the cost of the load at a particular time of day.

Performing an analysis of the electrical load required to change thetemperature and/or climate of different rooms may enable businesses tomanage their energy consumption more efficiently so that they can moreeffectively participate in utility company load management programs andreduce costs.

Learning software (e.g., algorithms) may embed intelligence into theretrofit control system by learning about the HVAC equipment and officespaces. The learning software may analyze relationships between pastactions and effects, create and update a model (e.g., in real time) thatmore accurately predicts the additional/reduced airflow needed toaccount for relative room volume, the distance air must travel from HVACequipment to the area where air is desired, relative air duct size, anddifferences in the ease of return airflow, and/or other factors that mayaffect the efficiency of heating, cooling, and/or humidifying an area.

Other thermostats typically turn on based on only one temperature input,and only respond to current errors (e.g., current difference between thedesired and actual temperature. In an embodiment, many temperatureinputs are analyzed, and the control algorithm learns the appropriatecurrent action to take based on evaluations of what has happened in thepast.

For example, the learning algorithm may learn how fast certain zones(e.g., rooms) react to actions relative to other rooms (e.g., a largeroom with a small and long duct vs. a small room with a large and shortduct).

For example, the processor system of the controller may include a neuralnet or Turing machine control (such as a conventional feedback loop).The simplest version is to update a parameter which is proportional tohow much more actuator input is needed for a certain zone (e.g., howmuch more the damper should be opened) to get a similar response inother zones (e.g., if a room is large, a duct is blocked, or the door isshut). Similarly, the parameter for the actuator input may need to beadjusted, because the room load is currently high (for example, the sunis shining on the room, the number of people in the room is high, theamount of equipment generating heat currently in the room is high,and/or other factors that may be currently present making the roomdifficult to cool). As a result of learning from historical data, theadjustment to the parameter may be computed to take into account theslower temperature response as a result of the higher load that isnormally in the room. Similarly, a projected actuator input for acurrent load that is different than usual may be computed based on othertimes when the room had a similar load or based on the changes in theactuator input required in other rooms when the load is changed.

As part of the control-loop algorithm for Climate/Temp Control, theremay be Dynamic/Virtual ‘Zones’, instead of, or in addition to, thestatic (hard-wired and hard-ducted) zones that have existed since thebeginning of forced air HVAC.

For example, on a day when 10 people are in a building having 100offices, a temporary zone may be established automatically that includesonly the locations where the ten people are located. As a result oftreating the locations of the ten people as one zone, conditioned airmay flow to only the locations where the 10 people currently. Thetemporary zone may be established dynamically and may be a virtual zone.The dynamic zone may change according to when people are scheduled toenter and leave the building and/or change locations in the building.Similarly, the dynamic zones may change according to the locations atwhich the users are detected (e.g., as a result of wearing RFID devices,as a result of sonic detectors, and/or as a result of IR detectors) tobe currently located. Optionally, location sensors (RFID, Sonic, IR,etc.) may be included in climate control system 100. The locationcontrol sensor may be independent of or may be part of the LightingControl (a light switch and/or an integrated light switch with apresence sensor may also trigger a response by the climate controlsystem when a person enters the room). An integrated light and/or HVACswitch and location sensor can optionally have communications with aMaster Controller via wireless and/or Power Line Carriers (PLC)communication link so as to not require more wiring.

Lights are different than HVAC (they turn On/Off immediately, and mayhave a separate local light generator (light bulbs) for each switch).However, lights and HVAC are otherwise are very similar, and sometimesmay be controlled simultaneously. For example, one may often desire bothlighting control and climate control, neither lighting control norclimate control, only lighting control or only climate control.Typically, when a user is in an office the user wants both climatecontrol and lighting, and when the user is not in the office, the userdoes not need either, and consequently, when the user is not in theoffice, the lights and climate control may be in standby modes, whichfor lights may be off and for climate control may be a reduced or offmode.

By integrating the lights and the HVAC, saving energy on lighting whenthe office is not in use may trigger a savings of heating and/or coolingenergy. For example, turning off the lights may turn off the HVAC orplace the HVAC in a standby mode.

The shutting off of the lights may provide an immediate feedback toemployees in an office that their HVAC has turned off. Similarly, ifHVAC is connected to an occupancy sensor, such as a motion sensor ornoise sensor, the user may turn both the lights and HVAC by wavinghis/her arms, making noise, or performing another action.

The climate control system may include RFID employee tags (and/or otherSecurity System tags) independent of the lighting system. In anembodiment, the climate control system controls and monitors more thanjust temperature in real-time. For example, the climate control mayprovide continuous fan control. In an embodiment, the fan may be kept onfor at least a fixed percentage of time (e.g., 35% of the time) even ifthe heating and/or cooling of the air performed a much lower percentageof the time. Sometimes the temp and humidity are fine, but the userwants more airflow or more fresh outside air. In an embodiment,individual control of the humidity (e.g., control of both humidifier(s)and dehumidifiers) for each room may be provided for those who have suchequipment in their HVAC system. In an embodiment, other parameters aremonitored, such as CO₂, CO, Radon/radioactivity, VOC (volatile organiccompounds), and/or mold spores, and the airflow may be activated orincreased to reduce these other parameters for those who have suchequipment in their HVAC for detecting when such elements are high,regardless of the temperature, prior airflow, and/or humidity. A varietyof other sensors may be added to the climate control system formonitoring and controlling other parameters in real time (according tocustomer needs).

Optionally the temperature is auto-corrected as a function of humidityto keep users more comfortable. For example, the perceived temperaturevaries by 12° F. at 72° F. depending on relative humidity variation from0% to 100% according to some US government data. The affect of humidityvariations on perceived temperature may be removed by monitoring andcorrecting the humidity adjusted temperature instead of the actualtemperature. Specifically, a personal climate control system may controlcomfort instead of temperature, even though comfort is a function ofmultiple variables (e.g., temperature and humidity). Since comfort is afunction of temperature and humidity, then controlling a temperature tomaximize comfort is better than simply keeping the temperature close toa given temperature set point. For example, if a user wants the comfortof 72° F. at 50% humidity, but the humidity is now 80%, the algorithm ofthe climate control system may automatically calculate that the tempshould be 70° F. to achieve the same comfort.

In an embodiment the user interface to the climate control system isweb-based. Consequently, relative to conventional thermostats, thedisplay is better, more attractive, and/or the internal database may bemuch more complicated than the database of a standard climate controlsystem. Using a web-based user interface facilitates accepting morecomplicated set-points (e.g., set points that account for futurevacations, business trips, sales calls, and/or other specific requestson specific dates). Using a web based user interface, the user interfacemay be displayed on an existing, large, high resolution, color monitorsthat overcomes problems of previous thermostat displays. For example,prior art thermostat displays have few characters, one line (or a smallnumber of lines), typically one color, no graphics, and are often notlit and/or not backlit.

By using a web based user interface, better user input devices may beused. For example, a keyboard and/or mouse may be used, which the usermay already own and be familiar with how to use (which reducesacquisition and training costs that may otherwise be necessary). Priorart inputs had few keys and/or buttons, fragile and/or unreliable keysand/or buttons that often require multi-function keys and/or buttons,which users find confusing. Prior art inputs have no mouse. Since manyusers already have a keyboard, there is no cost for hardware or forInstallation of the input device, and the climate control can beaccessed remotely and/or by others. Since most users already have acomputer, there is no need for a separate input unit for each person(Secretary, Nurses' Station, etc. can do this for others who requestit). The output device may support html, .jpg, .gif, and/or otherscripts, standards, and/or languages that allow for an appealinggraphical interface. Also, a web-based user interface with an existingcomputer has exactly or nearly zero installation cost. However, runningnew wires through existing walls for prior art thermostats can beextremely expensive.

A good user interface is helpful for gaining market acceptance. Theclimate control system may keep track of energy savings by day, week,month, year, and/or another period of time (e.g., a period of timedesignated by an administrator or user of climate control system 100).In an embodiment, energy savings may be tracked. Tracking of energyconsumption and/or savings may be useful for multiple reasons, includingpost consumption marketing, which may influence a customer's decision ofwhether to continue using the climate control service. Web basedmonitoring easily avails centralized monitoring & control. Duty cycles(e.g. of the Room Actuator, a local variable air volume and/or AirHandler) may be monitored, and the owner of the climate control systemmay have immediate access to status information and notifications. Theclimate control system may monitor equipment failure (or degradationand/or inefficiency that may lead to future failure), detect doorsand/or windows that are left open, monitor individual and/or selectedrooms.

The GUI may promotes energy savings behavior amongst employees via peerpressure (aka viral marketing, etc.), which may promote increased use(and therefore, value to the customer by cost savings and/orproductivity improvements and/or increased comfort) of the climatecontrol system by those having the climate control system available tothem, and promote marketing of system to others who do not use theclimate control system.

The climate control system may enable 3^(rd) party accounting of HVACusage so that employees can have comfort when desired and so that thebusinesses can may be charged for only the heating/cooling the businessneeds (e.g., not be charged for heating/cooling the entire 100 officebuilding on a Saturday when few people may come in to their offices fora few hours).

Optionally, the climate control system may display and control theclimate of locations in a person-dependent manner, instead of aroom-dependent manner, which automatically allows bettertemperature/comfort optimization by computers whenever multiple peopleshare an area (e.g., two in an office, multiple people in a conferenceroom).

The climate control system may ensure rooms are kept at a certainclimate independent of personnel, such as computer rooms that need to becooled regardless of personal preference. The climate control system mayallow areas/rooms to be designated and/or approved for anti-modecontrol. For example, during winter one room may be cooled even thoughall other rooms are only being heated (e.g., a room housing a server mayrequest and get cooling year round whether or not anyone else in thebuilding is granted that privilege).

The climate control system may provide both better comfort inrooms/areas that do not allow anti-mode use, provide less expensivecomfort in rooms/areas that do allow anti-mode use, and may do so at alower cost by saving energy, by using fan control to totally/partiallycondition specific rooms/areas when the ambient temperature of thereturn air of the HVAC equipment is closer to that desired than thecurrent state of the room/area. For example, if in a Winter heating modeone bedroom that faces the sun becomes too warm, the room can be cooled(or conditioned) with the naturally cooler unconditioned air from otherrooms, which in return get the warmer air they desire. In other words, asunny hot room can be used as a heat exchanger for absorbing solar heatand at least partially heating other rooms. In an embodiment, a sunnyotherwise hot room can be used to heat air that is then pumped to otherrooms and heat those other rooms with the sun heated air, therebylowering heating costs.

The climate control system enables control of not only conditioned air,but also the control of return air by modulating dampers and sensors.Controlling the return air may balance the airflow in/around a buildingfor comfort and energy efficiency. For example, return air may be drawnfrom certain areas only in certain times/modes and from other areas atother times and in other modes. For example, in Winter, while in HeatingMode, air may be drawn from the area around hot ovens, whereas in theSummer, while in a Cooling Mode, the air may be vented to the outdoorsfrom the area near the ovens.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a cross section of an air register 200 havingthe pivot axis oriented perpendicular to the page of the drawing. Airregister 200 includes duct wall 202, damper 204, stops 206 a and 206 b,gear 208, worm gear 210, and motor 212. In other embodiments, crosssection 200 may not have all of the components listed above or may haveother components instead of and/or in addition to those listed above.

Air register 200 may be an embodiment of one of air registers 114 aa-114nm (of FIG. 1). Air register 200 may be installed in air ducts 111and/or retrofit into retrofit control system 102 within system 100(which were discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1). In an embodiment,sections of air register 200 slide into air ducts 111 and are joinedtogether within air ducts 111.

Duct wall 202 may be the walls of air register 200. Damper 204 may allowor prevent (e.g. block) the flow of air into and/or from a location(such as rooms 113 aa-113 nm of FIG. 1). In an embodiment, damper 204may be a valve that opens or closes as a result of the turning of one ormore gears. In an embodiment, gear 208 and damper 204 may form a single,integral unit or assembly.

Stops 206 a and 206 b may inhibit the movement of a damper beyond adesired stopping point in either direction. In an embodiment, stops 206a and 206 b may be or may include seals that prevent or significantlyreduce the leakage of air past the damper when the damper is in theclosed position. Stops 206 a and 206 b limit the turning of damper 204.

Gear 208 may be a portion (e.g. half) of a gear that is attached to oneside of damper 206. Gear 208 may be a portion of a disk with gear teethat the edge of the disk. The gear teeth may be shaped for interlockingwith a worm gear. In an embodiment, the teeth may have a triangularshape and have a width small enough and an appropriate shape to fitwithin the grooves of a worm gear, and engage the worm gear. In anembodiment, gear 208 and damper 204 may form a single, integral unit orassembly.

Worm gear 210 may be a cylindrical gear with spiraling groves that arecompatible with the teeth of gear 208 (discussed above). In anembodiment, when worm gear 210 is turned, worm gear 210 causes gear 208to move in one of two directions, initiating the movement of damper 204towards a fully closed or towards a fully open position. Due to thetendency of worm gears to facilitate a reduced rotational speed, wormgear 210 facilitates a more precise degree of control than would existwith another type of gear. Worm gear 210 may also be configured tofacilitate locating the motor in a location that does not interfere withthe motion of damper 204.

Motor 212 is an electromechanical motor that turns worm gear 210,causing gear 208 to rotate, thereby adjusting the position of damper204. In an embodiment, motor 212 receives a direct or indirect signalfrom one of controllers 124 a-124 n with which air register 200 isassociated. In an embodiment, there may not be any feedback tocontrollers 124 a-124 n of the actual position of damper 204. Theposition and/or the correct functioning of damper 204 may nonetheless becomputed by tracking the amount one or more controllers 124 a-124 ndirects motor 212 to rotate damper 204 and/or by sensing the resultingchange in the temperature (and/or other climate parameters) as feedbackfor correctly positioning damper 204 for obtaining the desired climateconditions. For example, it may be expected based on the computedposition that damper 204 would reach a closed position upon turning 90degrees, and as such, one or more controllers 124 a-124 n may directmotor 212 to rotate damper 204 further than 90 degrees (e.g. 180degrees, 360 degrees, etc.) to a position at which damper 204 wouldcertainly have closed. As a result of the overdriving, an expectedposition is recalibrated by computing the future expected positions ofdamper 204 from the expected position after the most recent overdriving,and computing the amount that motor 212 has been driven in eachdirection since the most recent overdriving. Accordingly, a moreaccurate determination of the position of damper 204 may be obtainedafter overdriving the damper. In an embodiment, damper 204 may beoverdriven at regular intervals of time (e.g. nightly, weekly ormonthly). In another embodiment, the overdriving of damper 204 isoptional. Additionally, after moving damper 204 the amount computed tobring the damper to the desired location, the temperature is (and/orother climate parameters are) measured. If the desired climate is notachieved, the position of damper 204 is further adjusted to obtain thedesired location that produces the desired temperature (and/or otherclimate conditions).

In an embodiment, worm gear 210 and motor 212 may prevent flowing airfrom moving damper 204 more than the amount of motion allowed by theplay in the assembly of worm gear 208, motor 212, and gear 208.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of another cross-section 300 of an embodiment ofan air register 200, having the pivot axis is parallel to the page ofthe drawings. Air register 200 includes duct wall 202, damper 204, knobs306 a and 306 b, gear 208, worm gear 210, motor 212 and pivot 314. Inother embodiments, the air register of cross section 300 may not haveall of the components listed above or may have other components insteadof and/or in addition to those listed above. Knobs 306 a and 306 b maybe cylindrically shaped for placing a pivots 314 a and 314 b (discussedbelow) into a fixed positions within an air register 200.

Cross section 300 is along a cut that is perpendicular to the cut thatthe cross section of FIG. 2 is taken. Pivots 314 a and 314 b are knobson which damper 204 pivots. Pivots 314 a and 314 b may pivot within theinside of knobs 306 a and 306 b, and knobs 306 a and 306 b may be withinthe duct walls.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of an embodiment of an air register 400 from atop view. Air register 400 includes sections 402 a-402 c, knobs 406 aand 406 b, and knob 414. In other embodiments, air register 400 may nothave all of the components listed above or may have other componentsinstead of and/or in addition to those listed above.

Air register 400 may be an embodiment of one of air registers 114 aa-114nm (FIGS. 1A and 1B). FIG. 4 shows a view of the sections that make upair register 400. Sections 402 a-402 c may be interconnected with oneanother and installed within an air duct, such as air ducts 111 of FIGS.1A and 1B. In an embodiment, sections 402 a-402 c are placed within airducts 111 while sections 402 a-402 c are disassembled, and are assembledwithin air ducts 111, thereby allowing air register 400 to be installedinto air ducts 111 via smaller openings than would be possible if airregister 400 were not disassembled prior to insertion within ducts 111.Knob 406 a and 406 b may be an embodiment of one of knobs 306 a and 306b (discussed in conjunction with FIG. 3).

FIG. 5A shows a diagram of an embodiment of a sensor unit 500. Sensorunit 500 includes sensor casing 501, temperature sensor 502, humiditysensor 504, optional processor 506, and openings 508 a-508 d. In otherembodiments, sensor unit 500 may not have all of the components listedabove or may have other components instead of and/or in addition tothose listed above (e.g., sensors for measuring any state of the ambientenvironment).

Sensor 500 may be an embodiment of any combination of sensors 116 aa-116nm (FIGS. 1A and 1B). Sensor unit 500 may measure the temperature and/orhumidity. In an alternative embodiment, sensor 500 may include a motiondetector or an infrared detector for detecting the presence ofindividuals and reporting devices in a location associated with sensorunit 500.

Sensor casing 501 encloses the other components of sensor unit 500. Inan embodiment, sensor casing 501 may have openings 508 a and 508 b(discussed below) on one or multiple ends, allowing ambient air to flowthrough sensor unit 501.

Temperature sensor 502 may detect (e.g., measure and record) thetemperature. In an embodiment, temperature sensor 502 may be a bi-metalstrip, thermistor, or other device that measures the temperature of oneof rooms 113 aa-113 nm.

Humidity sensor 504 may detect (e.g., measure and record) the humidityof a location, such as one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm (FIG. 1). In anembodiment, humidity sensor 504 may be any of a plurality of devicesthat measures the water vapor in the air of one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm.Further, humidity sensor 502 may be used in conjunction with temperaturesensor 502.

Optional processor 506 (if present) may receive, perform calculationson, and report the states and readings of temperature sensor 502 andhumidity sensor 504. In an embodiment, optional processor 506 iscommunicatively coupled with one of controllers 124 a-124 n (of FIG. 1),temperature sensor 502, and humidity sensor 504. Optional processor 506may report the measurements of temperature sensor 502, and humiditysensor 504 to the one of controllers 124 a-124 n associated with sensorunit 500. Prior to the reporting, optional processor 506 may translatethe data into one or more desired formats. In another embodiment, thecalculating and translating performed by optional processor 506 areoptional, and/or performed by the one of controllers 124 a-124 nassociated with sensor unit 500. In an alternative embodiment, optionalprocessor 506 may perform one or more of the functions of controllers124 a-124 n.

Openings 508 a and 508 b receive a flow of ambient air from one of rooms113 aa-113 nm within which sensor unit 500 is located, or within whichsensor unit 500 is in contact with, and/or associated with. In anembodiment, the ambient air that moves through openings 508 a and 508 bencounters temperature sensor 502 and humidity sensor 504, facilitatinga more accurate sampling of the climate in the one of rooms 113 aa-113nm with which sensor unit 500 is associated.

FIG. 5B shows a diagram of an embodiment of system 549 having a wallsensor. System 549 includes person sensor 550, section of wall 551, andswitch 552. In other embodiments, system 549 may not have all of thecomponents listed above or may have other components instead of and/orin addition to those listed above.

Person sensor 550 detects indications of the presence of people andoptionally the presence of specific users of retrofit control system102. Person sensor 550 may send a signal to one or more of computers 120aa-nm, controller 124 a-124 n, thermostats 116 aa-116 nm, and/or remoteserver 132 indicating that a user may be present in the room. In anembodiment person sensor only detects whether a light switch is turnedon. For example, in an embodiment, person sensor 550 includes at least acurrent sensor or is a signal producing circuit that is turned on by theswitch. In this embodiment, it is assumed that when the light is turnedon, a person is present in the room, and the climate of the room is tobe regulated by climate control system 100. The light switch may includean infrared detector, a sound detector, a motion detector and/or otherdevices that automatically turn on the light switch and thereby activateperson detector 550. In an embodiment, person sensor 550 may includeinfrared, sound, or motion detection devices. In an embodiment, personsensor 550 may be capable of detecting whether a person is in the roomand optionally which person has entered the room (regardless of thestate of the light switch). For example, person sensor 550 may include areceiver for detecting radio frequency signals from RFID devices on theuser of the climate control system 100, which may also detect which useris in a particular location. If person sensor 550 is capable ofdetecting which person is in the room, person sensor 550 may send asignal indicating that the person detected is present. Wall 551 is asection of the wall of one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm in which sensor 550has been installed.

Switch 552 may be a switch for turning on and off a light. In anembodiment, turning on switch 552 may activate person sensor 550 to senda signal indicating that a person is present. In an embodiment, switch552 is a manual switch. In another embodiment, switch 552 includes amotion detector, infrared detector, a sound detector, and/or a receiverfor receiving a signal transmitted by a device on the user indicatingthe presence of the user. In an embodiment, switch 552 may be activatedby sound, motion, and/or heat, and when switch 552 detects the presenceof a person, sensor 550 is activated.

FIG. 5C shows a diagram of an embodiment of outdoor sensor system 560.Outdoor sensor system 560 includes outdoor wall 561, sensor device 562having temperature sensor 563, humidity sensor 564, input/output port566, and communications line 568. In other embodiments, outdoor sensorsystem 560 may not have all of the components listed above or may haveother components instead of and/or in addition to those listed above(e.g., wireless communications).

Outdoor sensor system 560 is for determining the temperature and/or thehumidity of the outside air. Outdoor wall 561 is a section of the wallof the structure in climate control system 100 has been installed.Outdoor sensor 560 measures the temperature, humidity and/or otherclimate parameters outside of system 100 (e.g. outdoors). Sensor device562 may be similar to sensor 500 except built to withstand outdoorweather conditions. Sensor device 562 may be mounted on wall 561 orelsewhere outside. In an embodiment, sensor device 562 is on the samewall and/or within a short distance of the intake for climate controlsystem 100. In an embodiment, sensor device 562 is close enough to theintake so that the climate conditions detected are expected to be thesame as the air brought into the building by climate control system 100,and/or sensor device 562 is far enough away from the intake so theintake does not affect the climate measurements (especially if theintake is also used as an exhaust). Temperature sensor 563 and humiditysensor 564 may be embodiments of temperature sensor 502 and humiditysensor 504, respectively. In an embodiment, input output port 566receives data indicating outdoor climate conditions. As a result, theoutdoor climate conditions are used as factors for determining settingsand actions to be applied by retrofit control system 102.

In an embodiment, the readings provided by temperature sensor 563 andhumidity sensor 564 may be used by retrofit control system 102 todetermine whether to draw outside air into one or more of rooms 113aa-113 nm, or dump air from one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm outside. Forexample, if the temperature outside is cooler (hotter) than thetemperature inside, the temperature inside one or more of rooms 113aa-113 nm is too hot (cold), a greater percentage of outside air may bebrought in to the building cool the rooms, instead of cooling (heating)the air already in the building. In other words, a certain percentage ofair may be brought into the building no matter what the temperature isfor health reasons. However, a greater percentage of air may be broughtinto the building when climate control system 100 determines thatbringing the air into the building is more efficient than heating orcooling inside air.

Communications line 568 allows sensor 560 to communicate with climatecontrol system 100 via input/output port 566. Communications line 568may be a wire or optical cable. Communications line 568 is optional. Inan embodiment, input output port 566 communicates wirelessly with therest of climate control system 100.

FIG. 6 shows a diagram of an embodiment of Graphical User Interface(GUI) 600. GUI 600 includes greeting 602, settings 604, having currenttemperature 606, current humidity 608, current airflow 610, correctedtemperature 612, desired temperature 614, desired humidity 616, desiredairflow 618, modifiers 620 a-620 c, and error averages 622. GUI 600 alsoincludes savings 624, legend 626, graph 628 having temperature axis 630,time axis 632, and measurements 634. GUI 600 further includes formatoptions 636. In other embodiments, GUI 600 may not have all of thecomponents listed above or may have other components instead of and/orin addition to those listed above.

GUI 600 may provide a Graphical User Interface for implementing thefunctionality of one or more components of system 100. GUI 600 maypresent settings for adjusting a temperature associated within a singlelocation (e.g., a room), a combination of locations (e.g. a zone),locations (e.g. a home or building), and/or one or more individualpeople. In an embodiment, GUI 600 may be sent to a user of a device,such as one of computers 120 aa-120 nm, and/or optional thermostats 118aa-118 nm (of FIG. 1), for rendering and receiving control commands fora system 100 and information such as the status of locations withinsystem 100. GUI 600 may be rendered via specialized software, an HTTPclient, or other network communicable browser or device.

Greeting 602 may be a set of relevant data presented to a user uponlogging onto a server associated with climate control system 100, suchas, remote server 132 (FIG. 1A) or an integrated server.

Settings 604 may be a visual display of existing conditions of one ormore locations within system 100, and interactive tools for managing theconditions. In an embodiment, current settings 604 may display a currenttemperature, humidity, airflow information, humidity correctedtemperature, desired temperature, and statistical information related toan error average. Further, current settings 604 may include modules(e.g. input fields and buttons) for inputting and storing settingsdesignated by a user. For example, settings may be inputted and storedvia key presses made to one of optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nmcontroller 124 a-124 n, and/or a computer 120 aa-120 nm (FIGS. 1A and1B) associated with the one or more rooms 113 aa-113 nm and/or zones 112a-112 n in which the thermostat 118 aa-118 nm or computer 120 aa-120 nmis located.

Current temperature 606 displays the value of a temperature measured forone of or rooms 113 aa-113 nm. In an embodiment, current temperature maybe the temperature for one or more of rooms 113 aa-113 nm and/or zones112 a-112 n.

Current humidity 608 displays the value of a humidity measurement in oneof rooms 113 aa-113 nm. In an embodiment, current humidity may be thehumidity of one or more rooms 113 aa-113 nm and/or zones 112 a-112 n.

Current airflow 610 displays the value of a current setting for the airflowing into one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm. Further, current airflow 610 isdisplayed in association with user interaction, or default parameters.In an embodiment, current airflow 610 may be an estimated percentage ofthe total airflow output as delimited by the degree to which a damper204 (of FIG. 2) within one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm is open.

In an embodiment, a user requests information associated with thecurrent climate of a room 113 aa-113 nm and/or zone 112 a-112 n (i.e.,current temperature 606, current humidity 608, and current airflow 610,cumulatively, or in varied combinations). In the specification, a “userrequest” is generic to user interaction with a device or softwareimplementing GUI 600, which initiates a query of climate information.Additionally, the term “user request” is generic to an automatic queryof climate information initiated by a device or software implementingGUI 600. The querying may be a default feature of the device orsoftware. As a result of the request, climate information is displayed.The climate information may include the measured temperature andhumidity and other measured climate parameters. The climate informationdisplayed may be the last measured values of the information, which mayor may not be the current climate conditions. Further, GUI 600 displaysthe state of the climate settings at the time of the request, and mayautomatically refresh the information displayed after a period of time.In another embodiment, no request is required to initiate the display ofcurrent temperature 606, current humidity 608 and current airflow 610 toGUI 600.

Corrected temperature 612 is the humidity corrected temperature, whichis the temperature that an individual is expected to perceive as aresult of the humidity in the air. Further, corrected temperature 612functions as a switch between two states. In the first state, thetemperature displayed is not corrected for humidity, and/or the climateof the room is modified to keep the temperature at the desired setting.In the second state, the temperature displays may be modified forhumidity, and/or the climate is modified to keep the humidity correctedtemperature at the level set of the humidity corrected temperature.

Desired temperature 614 is an input/output mechanism that may display atemperature value desired by a user for one or more rooms 113 aa-113 nmand/or zones 112 a-112 n. In an embodiment, desired temperature 614 maybe an input field that displays and receives the temperature settingentered. For example, desired temperature 614 may contain a temperaturevalue previously chosen by a user of GUI 600 for one or more rooms 113aa-113 nm and/or zones 112 a-112 n. Upon selecting desired temperature614 a user may input a value representing a new desired temperature.Further, the new desired temperature value (or another new set point)may be saved by a key press to a button such as a modifier 620 a-620 c(discussed below).

Desired humidity 616 is an input/output mechanism that may display ahumidity value desired by a user for one or more rooms 113 aa-113 nmand/or zones 112 a-112 n. In an embodiment, desired humidity 616 may bean input field that displays and receives information. For example,desired humidity 616 may contain a humidity value previously chosen by auser of GUI 600 for one or more rooms 113 aa-113 nm and/or zones 112a-112 n. Upon selecting desired humidity 616, a user may input a valuerepresenting a new desired humidity. Further, the new humidity value maybe saved by a key press to a button such as a modifier 620 a-620 c(discussed below). In an embodiment, desired humidity 616 is optional,and may function only as a display value.

Desired airflow 618 is an input/output display of a value selected as aminimum airflow amount desired by a user for one or more rooms 113aa-113 nm and/or zones 112 a-112 n. In an embodiment, desired airflow618 may be an input field that displays and receives information. Forexample, desired airflow 618 may contain a minimum airflow valuepreviously chosen by a user of GUI 600 for one or more rooms 113 aa-113nm and/or zones 112 a-112 n. Upon selecting desired airflow 616, a usermay input a value representing a new desired minimum airflow. Further,the new minimum airflow value may be saved by a key press to a buttonsuch as a modifier 620 a-620 c (discussed below). There may be a defaultminimum that is related to or is a minimum amount of airflow requiredfor health reasons. The desired airflow may be expressed as a percentageof a particular total airflow output, which may be in-part determined bythe degree to which one of dampers 114 aa-114 nm (of FIGS. 1A and 1B)within one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm is open. Alternatively, the desiredairflow may be expressed as a rate of air flow (e.g., in cubiccentimeters per minute). As a result of the selection of a desiredairflow, the necessary adjustments to the components of system 100 (ofFIG. 1) for achieving the desired airflow may be made, if the desiredairflow can be accommodated.

Modifiers 620 a-620 c are buttons or keys for storing newly entered ormodified values associated with settings desired by a user of GUI 600.In an embodiment, the values stored via modifiers 620 a-620 c may bedesired temperature 614, desired humidity 616, and desired airflow 618,respectively.

Error averages 622 may be averages, medians, variances, standarddeviations, excursions, and/or other measured difference between currentvalues and desired values of various parameters, such as currenttemperature 606, current humidity 608, current airflow 610, desiredtemperature 614, desired humidity 616 and desired airflow 618.

Savings 624 provides statistical information related to amounts ofenergy that may have been saved during the use of system 100. In anembodiment, savings 624 may be a visual representation of time periods(e.g. hours) in which heating/AC system 104 (discussed in conjunctionwith FIG. 1A) was used during a larger range of time (e.g. a week,month, year), and an estimated measurement of energy saved during thatrange of time.

Legend 626 may display definitions of elements, systems, and colors usedwith GUI 600. For example, different colored lines may represent theactual and desired temperatures.

Graph 628 is a visual representation of climate conditions associatedwith one or more rooms 113 aa-113 nm and/or zones 112 a-112 n over aperiod of time. Graph 628 may include a combination of lines, bars,and/or other indicative markings used in conjunction with the axis orscale of a graph to denote a value of temperatures and/or other sensormeasurements and/or system (climate and/or HVAC) states as a function oftime, amount, or degree. In an embodiment, graph 628 may provideinformation relating to the climates conditions within one or more rooms113 aa-113 nm and/or zones 112 a-112 n. Further, graph 628 may includebars and/or lines for indicating the climate settings and/ormeasurements across a period of time. Temperature axis 630 is a scalefor indicating a temperature in relation to a point along the axis ofgraph 628. Time axis 632 is a scale for indicating a time in relation toa point along the axis of graph 628.

In the example of FIG. 6, the room is used by different people atdifferent times. Each of these people has entered different temperaturepreferences. Consequently, when only one person is present the climateof the room is set to that person's preferences, and when both peopleare in the room an average of the both persons' climate preferences isused to determine the climate settings. Thus, when only Bill is in theoffice (between hours 7 am and 9 am) the temperature is set to 68degrees, which is the temperature that Bill entered into the thermostatas desired temperature 614. When only Sue is in the office (between thehours of 4 pm and 6 pm) the temperature is set to 74 degrees, which isthe temperature that Sue entered into the thermostat as desiredtemperature 614. When both are in the office (9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-4 pm),the temperature is set to the 71 degrees, because 71 degrees is theaverage of the 68 degrees and 74 degrees (i.e., (68+74)/2=71). Whenneither are in the office (12 pm-1 pm and after 6 pm), the temperatureis allowed to fall.

Format options 636 allow a user to change various formats associatedwith GUI 600. For example, format options 636 may allow a user to viewtemperature settings measurements in Celsius or Fahrenheit formats.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of an embodiment of a GUI 700. GUI 700 includesgreeting 602, current set points 704, dates 706, hours 708, temperatures710, delete buttons 712, change buttons 714, periods 718, begin dates720, end dates 722, time selections 724, desired temperatures 726, savebuttons 728 a and 728 b, tool tips 730 and format options 636. In otherembodiments, GUI 700 may not have all of the components listed above ormay have other components instead of and/or in addition to those listedabove.

GUI 700 may present settings for adjusting a temperature associated witha single location (e.g. a room), a combination of locations (e.g. azone), all environments (e.g. a home or building), and/or one or moreindividual people. Greeting 602 was discussed above in conjunction withFIG. 6.

Set points 704 displays points (e.g. periods) of time, such as a rangeof days, and a range of hours during the range of days, that have beendesignated for having certain climate conditions chosen by a user.Further, set points 704 displays the climate conditions that were chosenand modifiers (e.g. buttons) for deleting or changing the previouslychosen settings.

In this specification, a term “set point” refers to a range of dates,hours and a temperature or other state variables corresponding to valuesthat are associatively grouped (such as the group including by one ofdates 706, hours 708 and temperatures 710, or the group including one ofperiods 718, begin dates 720, end dates 722, time selections 724 anddesired temperatures 726, which are discussed below).

Dates 706 display ranges of time previously selected by a user as partof a set point within set points 704. In an embodiment, the displayedranges of time are days, weeks, months or years.

Hours 708 display ranges of hours previously selected by a user as partof a set point within set points 704, and periods of time within one ormore of dates 706. In an embodiment, the displayed ranges of time arehours.

Temperatures 710 are the temperatures previously selected by a user aspart of a set point. Further, temperatures 710 are applied during theperiods of time specified by hours 708 and dates 706. In an embodiment,the displayed temperatures are temperatures within rooms 113 a-113 nand/or zones 112 a-112 n stored previously by a user as part of a setpoint. Temperatures 710 are associated with hours 708 and dates 706during which temperatures 710 are applied.

Delete buttons 712 remove a stored set point with which one of deletebuttons 714 is associated. Change buttons 714 initiate a modificationprocess for entering a stored set point with which one of change buttons714 is associated.

Set point tool 716 allows a user to create set points for implementingthe selected temperature, time, and date settings of which the set pointis comprised. Periods 718 allow a user to select one or more types oftime periods during which a desired temperature is effected (e.g.“everyday,” “one day,” or any period of time between two dates).

Begin dates 720 are options denoting a date or beginning value of arange between two dates. In an embodiment, begin dates 720 correspond toone or more options of periods 718, and further specify the value orvalues associated with the one or more options of periods 718. Begindates 720 form the value of a new set point when grouped with acorresponding value within periods 718, end dates 722, time selections724 and desired temperatures 726. In an embodiment, begin dates 720 maybe include an interactive calendar for entering the begin dates.

End dates 722 are options denoting an end date of period of time betweentwo dates. In an embodiment, end dates 722 correspond to one or moreoptions of periods 718, and further specify the value or valuesassociated with the one or more options of periods 718. End dates 722form the value of a new set point when grouped with a correspondingvalue within periods 718, begin dates 720, time selections 724, anddesired temperatures 726. In an embodiment, end dates 722 may include aninteractive calendar for entering the end dates.

Time selections 724 allow one or more ranges of hours and minutes to bespecified. In an embodiment, time selections 724 form the value of a newset point when grouped with a corresponding value within periods 718,begin dates 720, end dates 722, and desired temperatures 726.

Desired temperatures 726 are values representing a temperature settingdesire by a user. In an embodiment, desired temperatures 726 may includeone or more drop down lists containing selectable values for selecting atemperature.

Save buttons 728 a and 728 b allow a user to store and/or effectselected changes or additions to the climate settings of the user. In anembodiment, save buttons 728 a and 728 b may be input buttons (e.g.input buttons written by a browser) and/or keys on a thermostat 118 a(discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1) for receiving input. Tool tips730 are general advice to aid a user in interacting with GUI 700.

FIG. 8A shows a diagram of an embodiment of a computer 800. Computer 800includes output system 802, input system 804, memory system 806,processor system 808 and input/output system 814. In other embodiments,computer 800 may not have all of the components listed above or may haveother components instead of and/or in addition to those listed above.

Computer 800 is an example of a computer that may be used in associationwith one or more systems 100. In an embodiment, computer 800 may be anembodiment of any one of, or combination of, sensors 116 aa-116 nm,optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm, computer 120 aa-120 nm (of FIG. 1),controllers 124 a-124 n, or remote server 132, or any of a plurality ofdevices used in conjunction with climate control systems 100.

Output system 802 may include any one of, some of, any combination of,or all of a monitor system, a handheld display system, a printer system,a speaker system, a connection or interface system to a sound system, aninterface system to peripheral devices and/or a connection and/orinterface system to a computer system, intranet, LAN, and/or WAN. In anembodiment in which computer 800 is used for one or more of optionalthermostats 118 aa-118 nm, output system 802 may include a display thatdisplays the temperature. In an embodiment in which computer 800 is usedfor one or more of optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm, computer 120aa-120 nm (of FIG. 1), and/or controllers 124 a-124 n, output system 802may include a user interface that facilitates entering climate andschedule preferences.

Input system 804 may include any one of, some of, any combination of, orall of a keyboard system, a mouse system, a track ball system, a trackpad system, buttons on a handheld system, a scanner system, a microphonesystem, a connection to a sound system, and/or a connection and/orinterface system to a computer system, intranet, LAN, and/or WAN (e.g.,IrDA, USB), for example. In an embodiment in which computer 800 is usedfor one or more of optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm, input system 804may include a key pad for entering temperature and schedule selectionsin response to prompts displayed on the display of output system 802. Inan embodiment in which computer 800 is used for one or more of optionalthermostats 118 aa-118 nm and/or controllers 124 a-124 n, input system804 may include an input from one of sensors 116 aa-116 nm, via whichtemperature and humidity measurements may be received. In an embodimentin which computer 800 is used for one or more of controllers 124 a-124n, input system 804 may include an input from one of optionalthermostats 118 aa-118 nm, via which climate preferences and schedulesettings may be received after entered by the user. In an embodiment inwhich computer 800 is used for one or more of optional thermostats 118aa-118 nm, input system 804 may include an input from one of controllers124 a-124 n, via which stored climate preferences and schedule settingsa may be retrieved by a user.

Memory system 806 may include, for example, any one of, some of, anycombination of, or all of a long term storage system, such as a harddrive; a short term storage system, such as random access memory; aremovable storage system, such as a floppy drive or a removable drive;and/or flash memory. Memory system 806 may include one or moremachine-readable mediums that may store a variety of different types ofinformation. The term machine-readable medium is used to refer to anymedium capable carrying information that is readable by a machine. Oneexample of a machine-readable medium is a computer-readable medium.Other examples of machine-readable mediums include a paper having holesthat are detected that trigger different mechanical, electrical, and/orlogic responses and physical or other device switches corresponding tobinary flags used to track settings. The term machine-readable mediumalso includes mediums that carry information while the information thatis in transit from one location to another.

In an embodiment, computer 800 may be a personal computer, a thermostat,a sensor or a climate controller. If computer 800 is an embodiment of asensor, memory 806 may include software for controlling other devices(which may be referred to as “device software”) and climate data. Devicesoftware may be any type of code capable of being executed by a hardwaredevice processor. In an embodiment, device software may includeprogramming code for determining, evaluating and reporting data from atemperature and/or humidity detector related to a climate. Devicesoftware may further include one or more methods for rendering a GUI toa display device. Examples of device software are discussed below inconjunction with FIG. 8B.

If computer 800 is an embodiment of a personal computer, memory 806includes client software, program code and program data. Client softwaremay be downloadable software for implementing a GUI and/or a suite ofcontrol functions for controlling system 100. In an embodiment, clientsoftware may be a stand alone application, a local or remote internebrowser application, or any other environment that allows a user toview, set, and modify settings associated with system 100. Program codemay be any type of code that is executed by a software program presenton a personal computer. In an embodiment, program code may include code834 of FIG. 8B (discussed below). Program code may also includefunctions for computing the operating efficiency of system 100, savingsaccrued during the use of retrofit control system 102, and methods fordetermining and implementing an optimal usage plan for operating system100. Program data may be any collection of data capable of beinginterpreted, evaluated and stored by a software program present on apersonal computer. As a result of the storing, program data may bereported or retrieved from computational components within system 100.In an embodiment, program data may be an embodiment of climate dataand/or user data 836 (discussed below).

Processor system 808 may include any one of, some of, any combinationof, or all of multiple parallel processors, a single processor, a systemof processors having one or more central processors and/or one or morespecialized processors dedicated to specific tasks.

Communications bus 812 communicatively links output system 802, inputsystem 804, memory system 806, processor system 808, and/or input/outputsystem 814 to each other and external devices. Communications bus 812may include any one of, some of, any combination of, or all ofelectrical cables, fiber optic cables, and/or means of sending signalsthrough air or water (e.g. wireless communications), or the like. Someexamples of means of sending signals through air and/or water includesystems for transmitting electromagnetic waves such as infrared and/orradio waves and/or systems for sending sound waves.

Input/output system 814 may include devices that have the dual functionas input and output devices. For example, input/output system 814 mayinclude one or more touch sensitive screens, which display an image andtherefore are an output device and accept input when the screens arepressed by a finger or stylus, for example. The touch sensitive screensmay be sensitive to heat and/or pressure. One or more of theinput/output devices may be sensitive to a voltage or current producedby a stylus, for example. Input/output system 814 is optional, and maybe used in addition to or in place of output system 802 and/or inputdevice 804.

FIG. 8B shows a diagram of an embodiment of memory system 832, which isan embodiment of memory system 806 of computer 800. Memory system 832includes environment 833, having code 834, and user data 835, usersettings 836, and parameters 840. In other embodiments, memory system832 may not have all of the components listed above or may have othercomponents instead of and/or in addition to those listed above.

Memory system 832 may be an embodiment of the memory of one ofcontrollers 124 a-124 n. Environment 833 may be an implementationplatform for facilitating the execution, sending, receiving and/orstoring of commands, information, data, settings and programming codeassociated with the functionality and users of a system 100. In anembodiment, environment 833 may be a WAN application server (such asLinux, Apache, Tomcat, Java Server, or other WAN application server), anoperating system, a combination of an operating system and WANapplication server, or any other platform capable of executing software.In an embodiment, environment 833 may execute and/or receive informationand commands from a remote client, a software program and/or hardwaredrivers associated with computational components of system 100, and maycause the display and/or storage of the received information orcommands.

Code 834 may include instructions for retrieving temperature andhumidity measurements from sensors 116 aa-116 nm and optionalthermostats 118 aa-118 nm. In this specification, the terms “code” and“computer code” are generic to applications and software. Code 834 mayfurther include instructions for retrieving user settings (e.g. input)and other data from optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm, computers 120aa-120 nm, remote server 132, and/or other locations where user data maybe located. Code 834 may also include instructions for analyzing (e.g.evaluating and/or comparing) the retrieved values as part of computing(1) whether to implement directives and settings associated withcomponents of system 100 (e.g. the positions of the air registers 114aa-114 nm, the on/off state of devices within heating/AC system 104, anda degree of change in settings required to obtain a desired climate),(2) when to implement the directives and/or settings, and (3) how toimplement the directives and settings optimally and efficiently.Further, code 834 may contain methods for determining whether and how tomodify existing directives and settings, and instances when suchmodifications will be necessary. Code 834 may also include instructionsfor checking remote server 132 for updates to code 834.

In an embodiment in which computer 800 is one of controllers 124 a-124n, computer 800 may be a master controller that controls the others ofcontrollers 124 a-124 n, and code 834 may include directives programmingdirectives sent from to others of controllers 124 a-124 n forcontrolling the operations of heating/AC system 104 and air registers114 aa-114 nm. Similarly, in an embodiment in which computer 800 is oneof controllers 124 a-124 n, control of the entire system may bedistributed among all of, or a select group of controllers 124 a-124 n,individual ones of controllers 124 a-124 n may send control directivesto others of controllers 124 a-124 n, and code 834 may includeprogramming directives sent from computer 800 to others of controllers124 a-124 n. In an embodiment, code 834 may be an example of the devicesoftware discussed in conjunction with FIG. 8A.

Local system data 836 may be a collection of data for identifyingcommunicatively linked computational devices within system 100 (such ascontrollers 124 a-124 n, sensors 116 aa-116 nm, optional thermostats 118aa-118 nm and computers 120 aa-120 nm). Local system day may furtherstore data associated with user inputs to, and reports from, thecomputational devices. In an embodiment, local system data 836 may be anentry within a data file (such as a node or branch within an XML file),a data construct (e.g. a database), and/or any of a plurality of knownmethods for tracking settings associated with one or more users of anetwork.

User data 838 may be a collection of data for identifying users of thesystem 100 associated with local system data 836, and storing settingsassociated with the users. An example of user data may be a desiredrange of temperatures and/or a humidity adjustment to be applied to oneor more of rooms 113 aa-113 nm (of FIG. 1). User data 838 may alsoinclude a desired display format for climate readings, intervals oftimes during which chosen climate settings will be applied, and othersettings related to viewing, managing, and controlling the features of asystem 100 in a manner the user may prefer. User data 838 may alsoinclude subset of data for collecting the inputs of preferences chosenby a user to form a user history and/or profile.

Parameters 840 may be values which may be evaluated and/or applied whenoperating system 100. In an embodiment, parameters 840 may be the resultof formulas computed during the installation of system 100, and/ordetermined via the execution of code by computational components withinretrofit control system 102 (e.g. one of controllers 124 a-124 n,computers 120 aa-120 nm, and/or remote server 940, which is discussedbelow). Examples of parameters 840 may be values for determining ahumidity corrected temperature, estimated airflow coefficients, and/orother values relevant for evaluation when system 100 is instructed toapply settings.

FIG. 9A shows a diagram of an embodiment of the memory system of remoteserver 132. Memory system 900 includes server application 902, code 904,interface 905, parameters 906, system data 908, user data 910 and GUI912. In other embodiments, memory system 900 may not have all of thecomponents listed above or may have other components instead of and/orin addition to those listed above.

Memory system 900 is an example of a server system that manages theoperations of system 100 via user input to and remote commands from aserver application. Memory system 900 may store and implement settingssent by a user system (e.g. a client system such as one of computers 120aa-120 nm) associated with system 100. Memory system 900 may be anembodiment of memory system 806 of FIG. 8A when remote server 132 is anembodiment of computer 800 (also of FIG. 8A).

Server application 902 may be any of a plurality of applications capableof processing programming code, and executable by a WAN applicationserver (such as Linux, Apache, Tomcat, Java Server, or other WANapplication server), an operating system, or a combination of anoperating system and WAN application server. In the specification, aserver (e.g. an application server) is a computing device capable ofstoring, rendering and serving documents, data and instructions acrossany of a plurality of communications ready networks, and receiving,processing and/or storing data and inputs sent across such networks.

Code 904 may include functions for computing the operating efficiency ofsystem 100, savings accrued during the use of retrofit control system102, graphing of historical and/or future data, updating code toclients, serving the UI functions of a control system, creating zoneschedules from individuals' schedules, and methods for determining andimplementing an optimal usage plan for operating system 100. In anembodiment, code 904 may include the program code of memory 806 of FIG.8A, for implementing and managing the functions of one or more sensors116 aa-116 nm, optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm and/or the clientsoftware of computers 120 aa-120 nm of retrofit control system 102. Code904 may further include, code 834 of FIG. 8B, for implementing andmanaging the functions of one or more controllers 124 a-124 n. Memory806 and code 834 were discussed above in conjunction with FIGS. 8A and8B.

GUI 905 may be a graphical user interface for sending and receiving datato and from remote server 132. In an embodiment, GUI 912 may be anembodiment of GUI 600 and/or GUI 700 of FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively, andmay be used by users for entering climate preferences.

Parameters 906 may be values which may be evaluated and/or appliedduring the operation of system 100. In an embodiment, parameters 906 maybe the result of formulas computed during the installation of system100, and/or determined via the execution of code by computationalcomponents within retrofit control system 102 (e.g., one of controllers124 a-124 n, computers 120 aa-120 nm, and/or remote server 906). In anembodiment, parameters 906 may be an embodiment of parameters 840 ofFIG. 8B.

System data 908 may be a collection of data for identifying a system 100that connects to remote server 132, and for storing user data associatedwith the system 100 connecting to remote server 132. In an embodiment,system data 908 may be an entry within a data file (such as a node orbranch within an XML file), a data construct (e.g. a database), and/orany of a plurality of known methods for tracking settings associatedwith one or more users of a networked server.

User data 910 may be a collection of data for identifying a user of thesystem 100 associated with system data 908, and storing settingsassociated with the user. An example of user data may be a desired rangeof temperatures and/or a humidity adjustment to be applied to one ormore of rooms 113 aa-113 nm (of FIG. 1). User data 910 may also includea desired display format for climate readings, intervals of times duringwhich chosen climate settings will be applied, and other settingsrelated to viewing, managing, and controlling the features of a system100 in a manner the user may prefer. User data 910 may also includesubset of data for collecting the inputs of preferences chosen by a userto form a user history and/or profile.

FIG. 9B shows a diagram of an embodiment of a sensor. Sensor 950includes temperature sensor 952, humidity sensor 954, optional memorysystem 956, optional processor system 958, input/output system 960, andcommunications bus 962. In other embodiments, sensor 950 may not haveall of the components listed above or may have other components insteadof and/or in addition to those listed above.

Temperature sensor 952 and humidity sensor 954 may be embodiments oftemperature sensor 502 and humidity sensor 504 of FIG. 5, respectively.Optional memory system 956 may collect data related to climatemeasurements and readings performed by temperature sensor 952 andhumidity sensor 954. In an embodiment, memory system 906 may be anembodiment of memory 906 of FIG. 8. Optional processor system 958, ifpresent, may be an embodiment of processor system 808 of FIG. 8, and mayconvert the output of temperature sensor 952 and humidity sensor 954into a format required by optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm, and/orcontrollers 124 a-124 n. Processor system 958 may handle communicationsof sensor 950 with optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm, and/orcontrollers. Input/output system 960 may send output related to climatemeasurements to one or more optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm and/orcontrollers 124 a-124 n. In an embodiment, input/output system 960 maybe a set (e.g. two or more) of communication wires which are wireddirectly from sensor 950 to one of optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm,and/or controllers 124 a-124 n. In an embodiment, communications bus 912may be an embodiment of bus 812 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10A shows a diagram of an embodiment of a Table 1000. Table 1000includes rooms 1002, nominal rate of flow 1004, max rate of flow 1006,max quiet rate of flow 1008, airflow coefficient 1010, desiredtemperature 1012, temperature tolerance 1014, measured humidity 1016,and measured temperature 1018. In other embodiments, table 1000 may nothave all of the components listed above or may have other componentsinstead of and/or in addition to those listed above.

Table 1000 may be a set of values associated with equations andalgorithms for calculating and resolving values associated with theclimate settings and functionality of system 100. In an embodiment,table 1000 may form a set of parameters used by computational deviceswithin system 100 for operating and controlling climate alteringcomponents of system 100. Further, the parameter set formed by table1000 may be used to partially or fully determine the informationdisplayed to users of retrofit control system 102 of system 100 (FIG.1).

Rooms 1002 may be numerical values for rooms within system 100 (e.g.rooms 113 aa-113 nm of FIG. 1). In an embodiment, rooms 1002 may have aone-to-many relationship with other values of table 1000. In anembodiment, the numerical value of one of rooms 1002 may serve as anidentifier of the one of rooms 1002 having the numerical value. (e.g., aroom having the numerical value of the numeral “1” may be identified as“1”, “room 1”, and so on, in equations or relevant tasks applicable to aroom). The numerical value of a room within system 100 may be anidentifier associated with one of optional thermostats 118 aa-nm, one ofsensors 116 aa-nm or other device present in, for example, each roomwithin system 100 (e.g., the detection of each sensor or thermostat maybe the method of identifying an individual room). Further, during theinstallation process of retrofit control system 102 (FIG. 1), rooms 1002may be assigned to users of retrofit control system 102 and zones (suchas zones 112 a-112 n of FIG. 1) designated as containing rooms 1002.

Nominal rate of flow 1004 may be a value for representing an estimatedamount of air flowing through one of air ducts 111 associated with oneof air registers 114 aa-114 nm (of FIG. 1), which may be expressed incubic feet per minute or other units. In an embodiment, during theinstallation of a system 100, information may be gathered and testsperformed on heating/AC system 104 (of FIG. 1) to determine the diameterand length of air ducts 111 (of FIG. 1), the power (e.g. output) of fan106 (of FIG. 1), requisite airflow rates for safe usage, and theduration of time required for heating/AC system 104 to cause rooms 113aa-nm (of FIG. 1) to reach designated temperatures. As a result of thetesting, nominal rate of flow 1004 and other relevant values may beestablished. Nominal rate of flow 1004 may be derived by an equationbased on the diameter, duct length, fan power and/or other empiricaldata associated with the capabilities of heating/AC system 104.

Max rate of flow 1006 may be a value for representing a measurement ofthe maximum airflow capacity of one of air ducts 111 associated with oneof air registers 114 aa-114 nm (of FIG. 1). In an embodiment, during theinstallation of a system 100, information may be gathered and testsperformed with heating/AV system 104 (as described above regardingnominal rate of flow 1004). As a result of the testing, Max rate of flow1006 and other relevant values may be established. Max rate of flow 1006may be derived by an equation based on diameter, duct length, power offan, other specification and/or empirical data associated with thecapabilities of heating/AC system 104.

Max quiet rate of flow 1008 may be a value for representing ameasurement of the maximum rate of airflow sent into rooms 113 aa-113 nm(of FIG. 1), while keeping the noise below a maximum tolerable volume.The measurement may be associated with an amount of airflow consideredto generate less noise during the operation of retrofit control system102. In an embodiment, the value of max rate of flow 1006 is used as apoint from which to scale back to a lower airflow amount. The lowerairflow amount may be an estimated value or a value derived via testingof heating/AV system 104, with the desired aim of determining an airflowvalue which generates less noise.

Additional airflow coefficient 1010 may be a value representing anadditional amount of airflow required to achieve a temperature within aroom. In an embodiment, the coefficient may be a multiplicativecoefficient that is multiplied by the airflow that would be otherwisecomputed. The additional airflow coefficient may be derived fromempirical data associated with the actual performance of heating/ACsystem 104 (of FIG. 1). In an embodiment, the greater the length of timerequired for a temperature to be reached with a room, the higher theairflow coefficient value will be set. For example, max rate of flow1006 and the capabilities of heating/AC system 104 may be used as upperlimit values for retrofit control system 102. The upper limit values maybe used as a baseline from which settings and values are reduced toreflect the currently necessitated operating parameters required bysystem 100 to obtain user desired results.

User desired temperature 1012 may be a value representing a temperaturedesired by a user for one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm when the humidity is50%. In an embodiment, user temperature 1012 may be a humidity adjustedtemperature applied when a user desires humidity adjusted settingswithin one or more rooms 113 aa-113 nm. The humidity adjustment may bean adjustment of temperature so that the perceived temperature is thetemperature at the current humidity that the user perceives as thecloser temperature if the humidity were not to vary from a datum (e.g.,50%). Although in this specification the current temperature iscompensated to a temperature at 50% relative humidity, anotherdatum/baseline of percentage of relative humidity could be used instead,such as 60% relative humidity, 40% relative humidity, 0% relativehumidity.

The user temperature tolerance is an amount that it is expected that thetemperature can vary from the set point without the user feelinguncomfortable. In another embodiment, the user temperature tolerance maybe set by the administrator, a default setting and/or set by the enduser. In an embodiment, user temperature tolerance 1014 may be inputtedvia GUI 600 and/or GUI 700 (of FIGS. 6 and 7). In other embodiments,user temperature tolerance 1014 may be an estimated default value. In anembodiment, there may also be other temperature tolerances (which may bereferred to as “system tolerances”) that are a measure of the accuracywithin which a particular temperature may be set and/or maintained. Inan embodiment, there may be one system tolerance for the entire systemand/or different locations (rooms and/or zones) may have differenttolerances. Similarly, in an embodiment, there may be one user tolerancefor the entire system and/or different locations (rooms and/or zones)and/or individuals may have different user tolerances.

Measured humidity 1016 may be values representing a measured humidityreading within rooms 113 aa-113 nm. In an embodiment, measured humidity1016 represents humidity readings for rooms 113 aa-113 nm reported bythe sensors 116 aa-116 nm.

Measured temperatures 1018 may be values representing a measuredtemperature reading within rooms 113 aa-113 nm. In an embodiment,measured temperatures 1018 may be temperature readings for rooms 113aa-113 nm reported by the sensors 116 aa-116 nm.

FIG. 10B shows a diagram of an embodiment of a Table 1020. Table 1020includes rooms 1002, comfort control 1021, desired temperature full1022, set point temperature 1024, temperature error 1026, error signal1028, airflow share 1030, airflow percentage 1032, desired duct rate offlow 1034, open position 1036, actual position 1038, calculated airflow1040 and air handler state 1042.

In other embodiments, table 1020 or other algorithm implementing suchlogic may not have all of the components listed above or may have othercomponents instead of and/or in addition to those listed above.

Comfort control 1021 may be a flag for determining whether a selectedtemperature applied within one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm is a humidityadjusted temperature. In the specification, a humidity adjustedtemperature is a perceived temperature felt when heat and humidity arecombined. A table reflecting apparent temperature values (e.g. perceivedtemperatures) of rooms when varying percentages of relative humidity arepresent, can be found via the National Oceanic and AtmosphereAdministration's Environmental Data and Information Service. In anembodiment, comfort control 1021 has on/off states which are set by auser via GUI 600 and/or GUI 700 (discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 6and 7). User desired temperature 1022 may be a desired temperature valueassociated with a user selection. User desired temperature 1022 is thetemperature that was input by the user without any modification. Setpoint temperature 1024 is a computed value to which the temperature ofthe room is to be set. In an embodiment, even if the humidity adjustmentis off, then the set point temperature may still not be the temperaturedesired by the user, as entered by the user as user desired temperature1022, because the system may use a different set point in order toconserve energy and/or to better meet other needs of the system or ofthat location.

If the humidity adjustment is on, the temperature set point may bemodified by the temperature required at the current humidity to obtain aperceived temperature that is the same as entered as user desiredtemperature 1022 at 50% RH. Set point 1024 may also be one or morecurrent target values of the temperature and/or one or more values fordetermining and/or representing the system state (e.g., climate), andmay be associated with methods for setting the parameters of one or moreof controllers 124 a-124 n. In an embodiment, set point temperature 1024may be part of code 834 and/or code 904 associated with computer 800and/or memory system 900 of remote server 132 (of FIGS. 8B and 9A),respectively. Set point temperature 1024 may be a location in memorythat receives the value of a temperature desired for one of rooms 113aa-113 nm. Further, set point temperature 1024 may be evaluated inconjunction with the values of set point temperatures associated withother users and/or rooms 113 aa-113 nm. For example, to obtain the setpoint temperature 1024 of a first user, retrofit control system 102 mayuse other rooms 113 aa-113 nm as areas to pull and/or push air to and/orfrom (assuming that the ducts and dampers are setup in a manner thatallows the desired pushing and/or pulling of air). Prior to designatingone of rooms 113 aa-113 nm for pushing and/or pulling for air to and/orfrom, the set point temperatures 1024 associated with those of rooms 113aa-113 nm being considered for pushing and/or pulling air may beevaluated to ensure that the pushing and/or pulling of air underconsideration will not create a conflict with the desired settings ofthat room (e.g., and will not result in one of rooms 113 aa-113 nmexceeding the target temperature range and/or other settings associatedwith that one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm). As a result, methods forobtaining the temperature of set point 1024 may be determined. Examplesof considerations for determining set points 1024 for a given room mayinclude evaluating (a) the total air capacity of system 104 incomparison with the amount of air desired for each of rooms 113 aa-113nm and the particular room under consideration (b) the desired climateof rooms surrounding the room under consideration (c) whether a userassociated with set point temperature 1024 set comfort control 1020 toan on or off state, (d) the degree of allowable temperature variancethat may be entered by the user as user temperature tolerance 1014, (e)the value of current set points 704 (FIG. 7) of other rooms 113 aa-113nm which form a zone, and (e) energy conservation requirements.

Temperature error 1026 is the difference between set point temperature1024 and measured temperature 1018. For example, if measured temperature1018 is 70 degrees and set point temperature 1024 may be 66 degrees,then the value of temperature error 1026 would be 4 degrees.

Error signal 1028 is a parameter for determining a percentage of airflowinto rooms 113 aa-113 nm required to adjust set point temperature 1024to the value of a temperature desired by a user (e.g. user desiredtemperature 1012 or user desired temperature 1022). The error signal maybe determined by a formula, which may be the product of the temperatureerror 1026 and additional airflow 1010.

Share of airflow 1030 may represent the value of a percentage of thetotal airflow into one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm. In an embodiment, theentry for each room for the share of airflow 1030 may be computed fromthe percentage that the error signal for that room is of the total ofall of the error signals. For example, consider the following scenarioof FIG. 10B. The total of the error signals is 12.4 (because4+3.3+2.4+1.3+1.4=12.4). Consequently, the share of air for room 1 is100*4/12.4=32%, for room 2 is 100*3.3/12.4=27%, for room 3 is100*2.4/12.4=19%, for room 5 is 100*1.3/12.4=10%, for room 5 is100*1.4/12.4=11%, and for the remaining rooms is 0%.

Airflow percentage 1032 may be a percentage of the airflow capacity ofone of air registers 114 aa-114 nm required to obtain a temperaturedesired by a user, while simultaneously achieving desired setpointtemperatures in all other rooms. In an embodiment, the desiredtemperature associated with the one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm may requirethe position of a damper within the associated air register or duct 114aa-114 nm to be partially or fully open or closed in order to receivethe amount of additional conditioned air associated with achieving thatroom's desired temperature. For example, a room 113 aa-113 nm with ahigher temperature may require a higher airflow percentage to becomecooled than a room 113 aa-113 nm with a lower temperature.

Desired duct rate of flow 1034 may be a value representing the amount ofairflow sent into a room as a result of the settings for share ofairflow 1030. In an embodiment, the value of desired duct rate of flow1034 is stated in cubic feet per minute. Further, the amount of airflowdesired duct rate of flow 1034 represents may be a portion of, or all ofthe amount of airflow signified by nominal duct rate of flow asdetermined by airflow percentage 1032. For example, if the currentamount of airflow for six rooms were 5,000 cubic feet per minute, and aroom received 10% of the airflow, the amount of airflow and the desiredduct rate of flow would be 500 cubic feet per minute.

Desired position 1038 may be the amount, measured in degrees, that aduct within air registers 114 aa-114 nm is desired to be open. In thespecification, the term “desired” is generic to both a user preferenceand the ideal functioning of components within system 100 (of FIG. 1).In an embodiment, desired position 1038 is the degree to which a ductwithin an air registers 114 aa-114 nm should be open in order for theair register 114 aa-114 nm to receive the percentage of airflowspecified by percentage of airflow 1032.

Actual open position 1038 may be the amount, measured in degrees, that aduct within air registers 114 aa-114 nm is currently open prior tomaking any adjustments, or while adjustments are being made (dampers mayrequire much more than one sample period to move to their desiredpositions).

Calculated airflow 1040 may be the calculated current air flow based onthe current damper position.

Air handler 1042 is a relay (e.g. a flag) for determining the on/offstate of an air handler or other HVAC equipment being controlled, andthe heating cooling state of heating/AC system 104. In an embodiment,air handler 1042 has states representing the on or off status of an airhandler, and a switch for determining which component of heating/ACsystem 104 will be used for altering the air flowing into rooms 113aa-113 nm (e.g. fan 106, air conditioner 108 or heater 110). The statesmanaged by air handler 1042 may be switched on and off via GUI 600and/or GUI 700 (of FIGS. 6 and 7). However, in an embodiment, stateshandled by air handler 1042 may generally be switched by logic circuitsand/or algorithms embedded in controllers 124 a-124 n.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example of a method 1100 of making system100. In step 1102, air ducts 111 (FIG. 1) are prepared for theinstallation of air registers 114 aa-114 nm. Step 1102 may include,removing a cover attached over openings of air ducts 111 into rooms 113aa-113 nm (FIG. 1), and optionally removing a legacy air damper (if oneis present), adjusting and/or otherwise altering a segment of air ducts111 to receive air registers 114 aa-114 nm. In step 1104, the componentsof air registers 114 aa-114 nm are inserting into or in series with airducts 111. Optionally, step 1104 may include the disassembly of thecomponents of air registers 114 aa-114 nm prior to their inserting intoair ducts 111. In step 1106, the components of air registers 114 aa-114nm within or with air ducts 111 are joined together. Step 1106 mayinclude the joining a motor, gears, pivot, damper, and/or pieces forminga cylindrical housing. Step 1106 may also involve returning the air ductcover to its original location.

In step 1108, legacy thermostats 122 a-122 n of legacy control system101 are disconnected from legacy controller 103 (discussed inconjunction with FIG. 1). As part of step 1108, controllers 124 a-124 nof retrofit control system 102 are connected to heating/AC or other HVACsystem 104 (discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1). Optionally,controllers 124 a-124 n are connected to legacy controller 103. As partof step 1108, control of heating/AC system 104 may be communicativelycoupled to controllers 124 a-124 n (FIG. 1). Step 1108 may includehardwiring controllers 124 a-124 n to heating/AC system 104 and legacycontroller 103 in a manner that allows controllers 124 a-124 n to switchon and off fan 106, air conditioner 108, heater 110, and/or legacycontroller 103 (FIG. 1). As part of step 1108, different ones ofcontrollers 124 a-124 n are configured to control different areasdefined as zones. Each zone may contain one or more rooms, whichcorrespond to zones 112 a-112 n and rooms 113 aa-113 nm (of FIG. 1)(optionally, a room may be divided into several zones or a zone mayinclude several rooms. In an embodiment, each zone is a different areaand the zones do not overlap one another. In another embodiment, thezones may overlap.

In optional step 1110, one or more computers 120 aa-120 nm (FIG. 1) areinstalled within rooms 113 aa-113 nm or elsewhere (if computers 120aa-120 nm are not already present and are desired). In step 1112,sensors 116 aa-116 nm, are installed within retrofit control system 102.Step 1112 may include providing and installing sensors 116 aa-116 nmwithin areas designated as one of rooms 113 aa-113 nm or zones 112 a-112n. In an embodiment, there may be at least one sensor for each zone.

In step 1114, optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm are installed withinretrofit control system 102. Step 1114 may include providing andinstalling optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm within areas designated asone of rooms 113 aa-113 nm and/or one of zones 112 a-112 n.

In optional step 1116, software associated with the functionality of thecomponents and applications discussed in FIGS. 6-10 is installed intooptional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm, controllers 124 a-124 n and/orcomputers 120 aa-120 nm. Step 1116 may include the installation ofsoftware for implementing GUI 600, GUI 700, environment 833, anintegrated server of controllers 124 a-124 n, and the values,parameters, formulae and algorithms of table 1000 (of FIGS. 6, 7, 8B, 9and 10, respectively). In step 1116 one or more graphical userinterfaces are installed to one or more computers 120 aa-120 nm,optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm and/or remote server 132. Step 1116may include the installation of software and/or devices (such as an LCDdisplay) capable of rendering a graphical user interface.

In optional step 1117, network 130 is assembled (if not already present)and/or communicatively coupled to one or more of controllers 124 a-124 nand/or computers 120 aa-120 nm. In optional step 1118, remote server 132may be installed and/or configured to enable controlling zones 112 a-112n and/or heating/AC system 104 via network 130 (FIG. 1). Alternatively,remote server 132 (FIG. 1) may be configured to provide other WAN basedfunctionality to retrofit control system 102. Step 1118 may include theinstallation of other hardware and/or software components forimplementing the functionality of remote server 132. In an embodiment,remote server 132 and/or server software may be installed in an entity's(e.g., a company's) intranet and/or hosted elsewhere, such as at anothercompany. In optional step 1120, any of the components of control system100 that are not already connected are communicative coupled to theappropriate portions of climate control system 100.

In step 1122, values for parameters of formulas associated with table1000 are established, such as the airflow capacity of air ducts 111, anestimated length of time required for a temperature within rooms 113aa-113 nm to be attained and other values associated with thefunctioning of system 100. Step 1122 may include configuring softwareassociated with the functionality of retrofit control system 102 inother manners. Step 1122 may include the establishing variables andsettings for recognizing and applying the settings for rooms, zones, andusers associated with retrofit control system 102. For example, roomsmay be assigned reference values, zones may be defined as groupings ofone or more rooms, default settings for rooms and zones may be set,storage for user information may be configured and administrative anduser accounts may be created.

FIG. 12A is a flowchart of an example of a method 1200 of using system100. The second half of the method 1200 is described in FIG. 12B.

In optional step 1201, default settings are established for users.Optional roles are also established for different types of users, suchas administrator and/or end user. There may also be seniority settingsor other roles and different priorities are assigned to the differentseniority settings and/or roles. An administrator may have certainprivileges to modify system settings that affect the entire system orother user accounts. End users may be given privileges that includesetting personal preferences. The personal preferences may be associatedwith an employee's normal location of work (e.g., the employee's officeor work area), locations where the user is expected to be, and/orlocations where the user is currently detected. Seniority settings maydetermine which end user settings have a priority (which may beassociated with higher ranking persons and/or more important rooms, suchas computer rooms and/or customer areas), in cases of conflict and thedesired of settings of all end users cannot be achieved.

In step 1202, one or more accounts established are for one or more usersof control system 100.

In step 1204, using the account established in step 1202, a useraccesses (e.g. logs on) to a control panel for creating climate settingsfor immediate or future implementation. Step 1204 may also includeproviding a user name password combination established in step 1202.

In step 1206, temperature preferences are created and stored for an enduser of retrofit control system 102. Step 1206 may include the creationof set points (such as set points 704 of FIG. 7). Optionally, step 1206may include the user entering a schedule of when the user may be presentin their work area, so that the work area only needs to be maintained atthe climate settings chosen by the user while the user is present. Theschedule may also include where the user will be within the building atdifferent times, so that the climate preferences of the user may beapplied to the locations where the user expects to be at a given time.Alternatively or additionally, as part of step 1206, the user maypassively enter current location information via a Radio FrequencyIdentifier (RFID) device or another location identifying device, so thatuser-chosen climate conditions may be maintained at the current locationof the user. An advantage of using both a location identifying deviceand a preprogrammed schedule is that if the schedule information is knowin advance, the room may brought to the desired climate prior to theuser entering the room, while the location identifying device may beused to adjust the climate when the user moves to an unscheduledlocation.

In step 1208, one or more sensors (such as sensors 500, 550 and/or 560)measure climate (e.g., temperature, rate of airflow, and/or humidity)readings for locations within retrofit control system 102. Step 1208 mayfurther include the storing or the reporting of the measured readings toother components of retrofit control system 102.

In step 1210 a comparison is made between the preferences received aspart of step 1206 and the climate measurements of step 1208. Step 1210may include one or more controllers 124 a-124 n reading the climatepreferences set and/or reading the climate measurements recorded priorto making the comparison. Step 1210 may include the storing and/orreporting of the result of the comparison to other components ofretrofit control system 102. For example, a subset of one or more ofcontrollers 124 a-124 n may perform the comparison, which is then sentto or retrieved by others of controllers 124 a-124 n. Also, themeasurements, settings, and the results of the comparisons may be sentto optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm, computer 120 aa-120 nm, and/orremote server 130 for display to the end user.

In step 1212, a determination of whether desired climate conditions fora given room and/or user are expressed in terms of the temperature orthe humidity adjusted temperature. If the desired climate conditionsinclude factoring in the humidity, method 1200 proceeds to step 1214.Alternatively or additionally, step 1212 may determine whether aparticular humidity was specified for the end user and/or room inquestion.

In optional step 1214, as a result the determination of step 1212indicating that a humidity or a humidity adjusted temperature isdesired, a set of instructions are applied that require humiditymeasurements and/or compute the humidity adjusted temperature, which areimplemented by optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm, computer 120 aa-120nm, and controller 124 a-124 n. As part of step 1214, based on theimplemented instructions control signals may be sent to heating/ACsystem 104.

Returning to step 1212, if the desired climate conditions do not includefactoring in the humidity, method 1200 proceeds to step 1215. Inoptional step 1215, as a result the determination of step 1212indicating that a humidity or a humidity adjusted temperature is notdesired, a set of instructions are applied that do not require humiditymeasurements and do not compute the humidity adjusted temperature, whichare implemented by optional thermostats 118 aa-118 nm, computer 120aa-120 nm, and controller 124 a-124 n. As part of step 1215, based onthe implemented instructions control signals may be sent to heating/ACsystem 104.

In step 1216, a determination is made of the errors signal. Determiningthe error signal may involve computing the difference between thecurrent temperature or other climate parameter and the set pointtemperature or other climate parameter and then multiplying thedifference by a multiplicative coefficient.

In optional step 1218, a determination is made as to the path ofairflow. Step 1218 may include determining whether to pull air from orpush air to the outside and/or one or more of the other of rooms 113aa-113 nm to obtain a user desired temperature, humidity, airflow,and/or humidity adjusted temperature. Step 1218 may include anevaluation of parameters associated with rooms adjacent to the one ofrooms 113 aa-113 nm for which a temperature change is desired, andoutdoor climate conditions. Step 1218 may also include a determinationof a source from which air will be pulled (e.g. a room, outside) when achoice of where to pull air from is an option in obtaining a desiredtemperature or a desired set of temperatures. Step 1218, may includeevaluating whether one or more rooms is expected to be in use, and whenit would be in use (e.g., possibly to save more energy by ventilating aroom more with either inside or fresh outside air before the room is tobe occupied, so that less airflow (at least temporarily) would be neededto achieve user preferences and/or legal statues for minimal airflow).As a simple example, if one room is too hot and another air is too coldit may be more efficient to transfer the air from the room that is toohot into the room that is too cold than to move the air elsewhere,especially if the room that is too cold is not currently in use and isnot expected to be in use for a while (but needs to be heated so thatwhen in use later the room will already be at the correct temperature).As another example, if the temperature outside is very cold, one room istoo hot, and another room is not in use, it may not matter what theclimate conditions are in the room that is not in use. Consequently, itmay be more efficient to transfer some of the hot air from the room thatis too hot to the room not in use instead of transferring/conditioningthe air in another manner, especially if the room that is not in use isnear other rooms that need to be heated. Dumping the hot air into theroom that is not in use may keep the building as whole warmer and/or therooms next door to it warmer, and therefore reduce the amount of energyspent running heater 110. The determination of the path of the airflowmay affect the error signal. After step 1218 method 1200 proceeds tostep 1220 of FIG. 12B.

FIG. 12B is a continuation of the process of FIG. 12A. After step 1218of FIG. 12A, method 1200 proceeds to step 1220 of FIG. 12B. In step1220, a total amount of airflow that is preferable for obtaining a setof user desired temperatures, humidities, and/or adjusted humidities arecalculated, based on the error signals 1028. Step 1220 may include anevaluation of values associated with the airflow capacity of the fans106 and/or air ducts 111 of system 100. Step 1220 may also include anevaluation of stored data associated with airflow amounts and lengths oftime required to obtain user desired temperatures during prior usage ofretrofit control system 102. Step 1220 may further include the storingand/or reporting of data associated with the share of airflow that ispreferable to send into multiple rooms 113 aa-113 nm. Step 1220 may beperformed in conjunction with steps 1212-1216. In step 1222, an amountof airflow for each room that is preferable for obtaining a set of userdesired temperatures, humidities, and/or adjusted humidities iscalculated, based on the error signals 1028. Steps 1220 and 1222 may beperformed in conjunction with one another. In an embodiment, step 1222is performed before step 1220 by correcting the error signal for eachroom based on step 1218. Each error signal is converted into a rate ofairflow, and then the total of the airflows for each room is the totalairflow of step 1220 unless the climate control system 100 is not safelycapable of the rates of airflow computed. In step 1224, as a result of adetermination of the percentage of the total amount of airflow that ispreferable for sending to each of rooms 113 aa-113 nm.

In step 1224, the position of dampers within the air registers of room113 aa-113 nm is calculated and set. Step 1224 may include theevaluation of shared airflow values set in step 1224, the calculation ofthe position to which one or more dampers should be turned in order toobtain the desired airflow into each room, and the activation of theappropriate components of an air register 114 aa-114 nm (e.g. motor 212,worm gear 210 and gear 208 of FIG. 2) required to adjust damper 204.

The computations associated with determining the motor speed and/orstages of fan 106, temperature and/or stage setting(s) of airconditioner 108, temperature and/or stage setting(s) of heater 110,and/or damper positions associated with steps 1212-1224 may be aniterative process in which the computations of associated with steps1212-1224 are repeated multiple times before a final set of theactuations of fan 106, air conditioner 108, heater 110, other optionalHVAC equipment, and/or damper positions is determined. In performing thecomputations associated with determining the actuations of fan 106, airconditioner 108, heater 110, other optional HVAC equipment, and/ordamper positions the user tolerances may be used particularly insituations where it is not possible to achieve the precise desiredtemperature, humidity and/or humidity adjusted temperature for each roombecause heating/AC system 104 may not generate enough or may generatetoo much heat, airflow, and/or cool enough air to meet the preferredtemperature for each room. User tolerances may also be used to reduceoperational costs of the HVAC system. Also, in an embodiment in whichthe locations of the individuals is detected and the climate settingsare adjusted according to the location of each individual as theindividual moves about the building, when multiple people are in theroom, although one or more people may desire the room to be at differenttemperature, there may still existing a range of temperature defined byan overlap in the tolerance of the individuals in the room to which thetemperature can be adjusted.

In step 1226, a determination is made whether to shut control system 100off. If control system 100 is shut off, method 1200 terminates. Ifcontrols system 100 is not shut off, method 1200 returns to step 1208where the climate measurements are repeated. Re-measuring the currentclimate and repeating steps 1210-1224 provides a feedback that allowssystem 100 to adjust its settings according to the actual climateconditions produced. Additionally, re-measuring the current climate andrepeating steps 1210-1224 allows climate control system 100 to adjust tochanges in user settings. In an embodiment, sensor readings may continueto be made even if the other equipment is shut off. In an embodiment,step 1226 may be performed by switching a switch form on to off.Although step 1226 is illustrated as occurring after step 1224, it maybe possible to shut off control system 1200 at any time during method1200.

FIG. 13A shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical User Interfacefor the system of FIG. 1. FIG. 13A shows the current climate settings,the desired climate settings, and energy savings, for example, for azone and/or for a plurality of zones. FIG. 13B shows a MyLocation liston the MyThermostat page, of FIG. 13A. The MyLocations list allows theuser to specify the location where the user expects to be frequently.The system controls the climate in those locations according to thatuser's preferences. The user may be able to just before exiting one roomand entering another room select the room from the MyLocations list thatthe user is going to, and then the user's climate preferences will beapplied to that room. Optionally, the user may also be able to specifywhich times the user expects to be in each location and the system willcontrol the climate according to that user's preferences during thetimes that the user specifies. The MyLocations feature makes it easierfor users with many rooms to use the system (e.g., an engineer at HP mayregularly switch between his Office, a Lab, 2 Conf. Rooms, and his Boss'Office—with 5 rooms on his MyLocation list, he can easily toggle betweenthem—however, were he to have to select between the 10,000 rooms at HPevery time, he would never use this system).

FIG. 14 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical User Interfacefor the system of FIG. 1. FIG. 14 shows a calendar listing the settingsthat are to be applied for each day on the calendar.

FIGS. 15A and B show screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface for the system of FIG. 1. FIGS. 15A and B show a screenshot ofa user interface that shows energy savings resulting form use of system100. The energy savings of individual rooms and of the building as awhole are shown. Additionally, energy savings over different periods oftime are also shows, such as the energy savings resulting from a givenday, week, month, and/or year.

FIG. 16 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical User Interfacefor the system of FIG. 1. FIG. 16 shows a calendar listing the settingsthat are to be applied for each day on the calendar. The Graphical UserInterface of FIG. 16 is compatible with the Fire Fox browser.

FIG. 17 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical User Interfacefor the system of FIG. 1. FIG. 17 shows a calendar listing the settingsthat are to be applied for each day on the calendar. The Graphical UserInterface of FIG. 17 is compatible with the Internet Explorer browser.

FIG. 18 shows screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical User Interfacefor the system of FIG. 1. FIG. 18 shows links that may be used forchanging the settings of a particular day or group of days.

FIGS. 19A and B show two screenshots of an embodiment of a GraphicalUser Interface (which may be referred to as a ‘Dashboard’), eachscreenshot show the GUI with different charts visible. Optionally, theGUI of FIGS. 19A and B may be used by and dedicated to a ChiefAdministrator of the system of FIG. 1, and may be used to see anoverview the status of the system and of legacy system(s). FIGS. 19A andB show versions of other GUIs that are available for using.

FIG. 20 shows an enlarged screenshot of one of the graphs in FIGS. 19Aand B. FIG. 20 shows a plot of the desired temperature range (indicatedas a rectangle) for each of several rooms and the actual temperature ofthat room (indicated as a line).

FIG. 21 shows an enlarged screenshot of one of the graphs in the GUI ofFIGS. 19A and B. FIG. 21 shows a series of plots in which each plotshows the temperature of a different region (e.g., a different room orother region) as a function of time.

FIG. 22 shows an enlarged screenshot of plots other parameters (desiredranges vs. actual states) not shown in FIG. 21 in addition to showingplots of shown in FIG. 21. Specifically, FIG. 22 shows plots of thedesired temperatures of each room (which is not shown in FIG. 21) inaddition to showing the actual temperature (which is shown in FIG. 21).

FIG. 23 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface the system of FIG. 1. Similar to the GUI of FIGS. 19A and B,the GUI of FIG. 23 may be used for a Chief Administrator. The GUI ofFIG. 23 may be used for setting the status of the HVAC System. Someexamples of the statuses that the Chief Administrator may choose fromare Heating only (which is a state in which only heating is available inall locations), Cooling Only (which is a state in which only cooling,e.g., air conditioning, is available in all locations), Fan only (whichis a state in which only fan is available in all locations), Heating orCooling (e.g., which is a state in which only one of heating or coolingis available in all locations, but which one is available depends onwhichever a preponderance of locations desires), or Heating and Cooling(e.g., which is a state in which both heating and cooling may beavailable, and some rooms may be heated before the system switches overinto cooling mode to cool other rooms—alternatively any user may decidewhether to heat or cool their room independently of the which of theother rooms and whether the other rooms are heated or cooled).

FIG. 24 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface. The GUI of FIG. 24 may be used by a Chief Administrator ofthe system of FIG. 1, and may be used to monitor users and/or the roomthat the user occupies or is associated with.

FIG. 25 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface. Optionally, the GUI of FIG. 2 may be used by a ChiefAdministrator of the system of FIG. 1, and may be used to set allowableranges for heating, cooling, temperature tolerance and airflow forindividual regions, rooms, and/or people. The GUI of FIG. 25 may also beused to determine if a room or user may receive anti-modal operation(e.g., if the system is heating all other areas, a room/person may getcooling if desired, such as a computer room, which must stay cool).

FIG. 26 shows a screenshot of an embodiment of a Graphical UserInterface. Optionally, the GUI of FIG. 26 may be used by a ChiefAdministrator of the system of FIG. 1, and may be used to set or tochange (e.g., override) setpoints for individual rooms and/or users. TheGUI of FIG. 26 may include a menu of links that may be selectedindependently of one another. Each link may allow the administrator toedit select points associated with the selected rooms, regions, and/orpeople.

OTHER ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In an embodiment, heating/AC system 104 may contain one or more fans,heaters and/or air cooling units for altering the temperature conditionsof any of a plurality of associated environments (e.g. rooms 113 aa-113nm, discussed below). The temperature altering affect of heating/ACsystem 104 may involve causing heated, cooled or unaltered air to flow,or cease its flow, into rooms 113 aa-113 nm. The temperature alteringaffect is controlled via the activation or deactivation of components ofheating/AC system 104, as directed by legacy controller 102.

In an embodiment, evaluator 830 may function as a temperature and/orhumidity anticipator containing variables for computation. For example,a variable for the heating/cooling state of one of controllers 124 a-124n (which were discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1), a variable for thetemperature a few degrees higher than the current temperature, and avariable for a temperature a few degrees lower than current temperature.The higher variable being used when the one of controllers 124 a-124 nis in a “heating” state, and the lower variable being used when the oneof controllers 124 a-124 n is in a “cooling state.” As a result ofreporting the higher temperature to an associated one of controllers 124a-124 n, the one of controllers 124 a-124 n causes the heating of a room113 a-113 n to end prematurely, preventing excess heating of a room 113a-113 n. Similarly, as a result of reporting the lower temperature to anassociated one of controllers 124 a-124 n, the one of controllers 124a-124 n causes the cooling of a room 113 a-113 n to end prematurely,preventing excess cooling of a room 113 a-113 n. The exceeding of desireclimate settings during the process of sensing the climate details isthereby reduced in comparison to what would be expected if optionalprocessor 506 were not present.

In an embodiment, retrofit system 102 may be associated with one or moreservices related to managing the components and features of retrofitsystem 102. For example, a service may be provided for reducing the peakpower consumption of environments (e.g. offices and/or homes) withinwhich retrofit control system 102. Further, the service may include afee based software for monitoring and executing the capabilities of asystem 100 on which retrofit control system 102 is installed. In anembodiment, the software may include an artificial intelligence forinterpreting variances in the capabilities of a system 100, over time,and may determine and/or initiate corrective measures for maintainingoperating parameters and/or energy consumption rates determined by usersof system 100. In an embodiment, the associated services requires no orreduced immediate cost, and is structured to ensure recurring costswhich are lesser in amount than energy savings provided by retrofitsystem 102.

In another embodiment, the equipment and installation of retrofit system100 are optimized for efficiency in relation to comparable systems. Forexample, the mechanical dampers of retrofit system 102 (e.g. damper 204)are formed within an air duct, and may thereby eliminate the need to cutor detach segments of the existing ductwork, drill holes, wrapcomponents with duct tape, install set screws, fit external dampermotors, remove drywall and/or other labor intensive measures associatedwith installing climate control system components. A further example mayinclude the use of a compressible material around the periphery of thedamper to reduce airflow leaks and to simultaneously position the damperfirmly and or permanently into the duct.

Peer to peer network 132 is a communicative network between controllers124 a-124 n. Peer to peer network 132 transfers status, settings andhistory data of amongst controllers 124 a-124 n and between one or morecontrollers 124 a-124 n and computers 120 aa-120 nm and/or remote server134. Further, peer to peer network 132 may transfer instructions amongstcontrollers 124 a-124 n and between one or more controllers 124 a-124 nand computers 120 aa-120 nm and/or remote server 134. In an embodiment,one of controllers 124 a-124 n, computers 120 aa-120 nm, or remoteserver 134 may function as a parent node (e.g. master controller) forestablishing and monitoring the communicative link and/or relationshipsbetween other controllers 124 a-124 n, computers 120 aa-120 nm, orremote server 134, which function as child nodes (e.g. slavecontrollers). As a result of the link, the component functioning as theparent node of peer to peer network 132 may have access to the status,settings, operation history and functions of other controllers,computers and remote servers of retrofit system 102. In an embodiment,peer to peer network 132 may be used in conjunction with code, such ascode 808 and 908 (of FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively) to track historysettings (e.g. previous temperatures, operations of a controller 124a-124 n associated with a room 113 aa-113 nm, and measurements of timerequired to achieve desired climates). As a result of the tracking,intelligent methods of code 808 and 908 may make operational adjustmentsto the user commands sent to a controller 124 a-124 n to optimize theperformance and energy saving features of retrofit system 102, andpredict techniques for attaining desired temperature changes morequickly.

1. A system comprising: climate control equipment; and a controller for directly controlling climate control equipment by turning the climate control equipment on and off to obtain a desired setting, the controller being connected to the climate control equipment, and the controller connecting to a thermostat interface, circumventing a legacy controller; one or more sensors for sensing climate parameters including at least temperature and humidity, the sensor being communicatively coupled to the controller; the controller storing instructions that cause the controller to maintain a humidity adjusted temperature in an area.
 2. The system of claim 1, the system being configured to include a mode in which the interface displays a humidity adjusted temperature, the humidity adjusted temperature being a temperature at a current humidity that is expected to feel as comfortable to the user as the current temperature at a predetermined reference humidity; and input a setting that allows the user to set a desired humidity adjusted temperature, which will cause the controller to adjust the temperature or humidity until temperature at a current humidity is a temperature that is expected to feel as comfortable to the user as a predetermined desired temperature at a predetermined reference humidity, the reference humidity being different than the current humidity.
 3. A system comprising: climate control equipment; and a controller for directly controlling climate control equipment by turning the climate control equipment on and off to obtain a desired setting, the controller being connected to the climate control equipment, and the controller connecting to a thermostat interface, circumventing a legacy controller; the controller storing a plurality of climate preference settings with each climate preference setting corresponding to a different user; instructions for regulating the climate of plurality of locations, the instructions causing the controller to regulate the climate of each location at a given time based on the climate preference settings of each user expected to be at that location at the given time.
 4. A system comprising: climate control equipment; and a controller for directly controlling climate control equipment by turning the climate control equipment on and off to obtain a desired setting, the controller being connected to the climate control equipment, and the controller connecting to a thermostat interface, circumventing a legacy controller; the controller storing one or more instructions that cause the controller to determine through which of a plurality of vents to pull air through, each of the plurality of vents being installed in a building in which the system is installed, based at least on a current mode of operation and a current climate in a plurality of locations, each of the plurality of locations being one of a set of at least two locations between which air is transmitted via at least one of the plurality of vents.
 5. A system comprising: climate control equipment; and a controller for directly controlling climate control equipment by turning the climate control equipment on and off to obtain a desired setting, the controller being connected to the climate control equipment, and the controller connecting to a thermostat interface, circumventing a legacy controller; the controller storing one or more instructions that causes the controller to send air to a first room having a first climate condition, in response to a climate measurement, to adjust the first room to have a second climate condition based on a climate setting for the first room; transfer the air having the first climate condition from the first room to a second room having air of a third climate condition to adjust the second room to have a fourth climate condition, based on a climate setting for the second room.
 6. A system comprising: climate control equipment having climate modifying equipment, circuitry that controls the climate modifying equipment, a thermostat interface with a set of parameters that are controlled via the thermostat interface, the circuitry communicating with the thermostat interface, the circuitry having portions for controlling each parameter of the set of parameters by controlling the climate modifying equipment in a particular way for each parameter; and a controller for controlling the climate control equipment, the controller being connected to the climate control equipment via the thermostat interface and controlling at least a subset of the parameters, the controller controlling at least one of the parameters via the thermostat interface, but in a different manner than the particular way for that parameter.
 7. The system of claim 6, the set of parameters including an intermediate setting for at least one piece of equipment of the climate modifying equipment, the controller turning on and off the piece of equipment instead of activating the intermediate setting.
 8. The system of claim 6, the circuitry including a programmable timer via which a schedule of times of when different climate settings are applied are programmable, the controller having a separate programmable timer and scheduling when the different climate settings will be applied without programming the programmable timer of the circuitry.
 9. A system comprising: climate control equipment; and a controller configured to directly control climate control equipment by turning the climate control equipment on and off to obtain a desired setting, the controller being connected to the climate control equipment, and the controller connecting to a thermostat interface, the turning of the climate control equipment to an on state and to an off state, via the thermostat interface, to obtain a desired setting circumvents a legacy controller that is also configured to obtain the desired setting, the desired setting being a setting that is not obtainable by keeping the climate control equipment always in the on state or always in the off state.
 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising: a plurality of locations, each location having at least one damper; the controller storing instructions that cause the controller to adjust each damper based on user chosen climate preferences, the instructions causing the controller to adjust the position of each damper based on a separate set of climate settings.
 11. The system of claim 9, the controller storing one or more instructions that cause the controller to store a list of locations, automatically identify a group of the locations that have similar settings and create a dynamic zone for the group of locations identified.
 12. The system of claim 9, the controller storing one or more instructions that cause the controller to determine through which of a plurality of vents to take air in from outside of a building in which the system is installed, based at least on a current outside climate, a current inside climate, and a current mode of operation.
 13. The system of claim 9, the controller storing one or more instructions that causes the controller to send relatively cool air to a first room having relatively hot air, in response to a temperature measurement, to maintain a climate condition based on a climate setting for the first room; transfer the relatively hot air from the first room to a second room having relatively cool air to cool the second room, based on a climate setting for the second room; the relatively cool air being cool relative to the relatively hot air, and the relatively hot air being hot relative to the relatively cool air.
 14. The system of claim 9, the controller storing one or more instructions that causes the controller to send relatively hot air to a first room having relatively cool air, in response to a temperature measurement, to maintain a climate condition based on a climate setting for the first room; transfer the relatively cool air from the first room to a second room having relatively hot air to cool the second room, based on a climate setting for the second room; the relatively cool air being cool relative to the relatively hot air, and the relatively hot air being hot relative to the relatively cool air.
 15. The system of claim 9, the controller including a neural network that learns relationships between control instructions sent to the climate control equipment and resulting climate changes in different parts of a building whose climate is being controlled by the climate control equipment, based on recorded data of past changes in climate caused by control instructions implemented by the climate control equipment in the past.
 16. The system of claim 9, the controller including a learning algorithm, which when implemented causes the controller to learn relationships between control instructions sent to the climate control equipment and resulting climate changes in different parts of a building whose climate is being controlled by the climate control equipment, based on recorded data of past changes in climate caused by control instructions implemented by the climate control equipment in the past.
 17. The system of claim 9, the controller storing one or more instructions that causes the controller to maintain air flow past a heat exchanger above a certain level for safe operation of the heat exchanger.
 18. The system of claim 11, the controller storing machine instructions that handle climate settings of locations of a dynamic zone being no different than locations of any zone.
 19. The system of claim 9, the turning of the climate control equipment on and off to obtain the desired setting including at least pulsing the climate control equipment on and off.
 20. The system of claim 9, further comprising: the controller storing instructions that cause the controller to adjust the at least one damper of each of plurality of locations based on user chosen climate preferences, each location having at least one damper, the instructions causing the controller to adjust the position of the at least one damper of each location based on a separate set of climate settings, each separate set of climate settings corresponding to a different set of user chosen climate preferences.
 21. The system of claim 20, the instructions including at least one instruction for associating each set of user instructions with a different user.
 22. The system of claim 9, further comprising: the controller storing instructions that cause the controller to receive sensor information indicative of locations of specific users; to determine a location for each specific user; to associate different climate settings with different users and adjust climate settings of each location based on which users are currently present at that location and the climate settings associated with the users currently at that location to send signal to adjust positions of dampers at each location to facilitate adjusting climate parameters to meet the settings.
 23. The system of claim 9, the instructions include instructions for the controller to choose a set of climate settings to apply to that location based on the user associated with that set of climate settings having a particular status and being at that location.
 24. The system of claim 9, the controller storing instructions for collecting feedback from multiple sensors, each of the multiple sensors sensing the same climate parameter, the instructions determining one setting for that climate parameter for the room based on each of the feedback from each of the multiple sensors and a record of prior settings correlated with prior feedback from the multiple sensors.
 25. The system of claim 9, the controller storing instructions for dividing a single room into multiple zones, collecting feedback from multiple sensors, each of the multiple sensors sensing the same climate parameter; the instructions determining multiple setting for that climate parameter based on the feedback; each of the multiple settings being applied to a different zone of the room. 